The UIA Supports the Malaysian Bar in its Fight against Death Penalty

The UIA expresses its strongest support for the position expressed by the Malaysian Bar on the eve of the execution of Gunasegar s/o Pitchaymuthu, J Ramesh s/o Jayakumar, and Sasivarnam s/o Jayakumar.

We deeply regret the conditions of their execution, by way of a “secretive” hanging of which the men’s families were given an extremely brief notice.

The UIA is opposed to death penalty even if implemented following proceedings guaranteeing a fair trial. It is even more outraged when executions are carried out in conditions which demonstrate a clear violation of the Safeguards guaranteeing the protection of the rights of those facing the death penalty, adopted by consensus by the General Assembly in 1984, as was the case for the executions of this morning.

The UIA notes with satisfaction the Government’s intention to introduce legislation in Parliament to cease the use of the mandatory death penalty. While those intentions represent a positive step in the fight against death penalty, the UIA is of the opinion that the Malaysian government should commit to the abolition of death penalty, irrespective of the crime that may have been committed.

Furthermore, the UIA shares the Malaysian Bar’s opinion that in light of the impending review of the mandatory death penalty, “it is unfair and unjust to carry out the death sentence when there is currently a possibility of reform which, if put into effect, should apply retrospectively”.

It calls on the Malaysian Government to implement an immediate official moratorium on any and all executions.