PETALING JAYA: The court’s discretionary power to impose the death penalty must be retained to ensure that justice can be served to victims of heinous crime, says MCA.

       Its spokesman Mike Chong Yew Chuan said some people have voiced dissatisfaction with the country’s decision to abolish the mandatory death penalty, as they desire justice for victims of brutal murders.

       “Currently, there are 11 offences that carry a mandatory death penalty, including murder.

       “In this regard, MCA reiterates our position, that is, even if the mandatory death sentence is abolished, the courts must have the power to impose the death sentence if the judge determines that the perpetrator’s crime justifies capital punishment.

       “In other words, total abolition of the death sentence should not occur. Instead, discretionary authority to impose the death penalty must be granted to the courts. This grants our judges the authority to exercise discretion based on the particulars of each case.

       “After committing crimes against the state, offenders must be sentenced with the appropriate punishment, rather than be permitted to walk free,” said Chong in a statement Friday (June 17).

       Chong said there are many unresolved cases involving loss of life such as firefighter Muhammad Adib Mohd Kassim’s death which has made the rakyat to feel that serious offences warranted appropriate punishment.

       “Also, imagine the feelings of the family of the late Zulfarhan Osman Zulkarnain, a UPNM cadet who was abused to death by his fellow students with a hot iron.

       “Or the late Kevin Morais, a deputy prosecutor who was abducted, murdered and his body dumped into a sealed barrel.

       “In fact, many will remember the case of the late Nurin Jazlin, an eight-year-old victim of sexual crime. The murderer has yet to be found.

       “Thus, the court should have the discretionary power to impose the death penalty if it is considered that the punishment provides some sort of justice to the victim and closure to the victim's family,” said Chong.

       The government announced that it has agreed to abolish the mandatory death penalty, replacing it with other types of punishment at the court’s discretion.

       Among the types of crimes which are punishable by death in Malaysia are drug trafficking, murder, terrorism and possession of firearms.