Putrajaya's plan to abolish the death penalty has been lauded by human rights groups and earned the country international praise.

However, the government is also facing some pushback, particularly from families of murder victims, which has been prominently highlighted in the Chinese press – which even prompted MCA deputy president Wee Ka Siong to call for more consultation.

Among these was Chee Ah Sau, whose 25-year-old daughter Chee Gaik Yap was raped and murdered in 2006...