KUALA LUMPUR: Capital punishment in the Malaysian and Singaporean legal system has been widely debated and calls to abolish the death penalty have been ringing for some time now, without a change in the government's stance.
In an effort to amplify the withdrawal of the death sentence, a new NGO, Sebaran Kasih has embarked on producing a song written by an inmate, Pannir Selvam Pranthaman who is in the Changi Prison awaiting execution.
Supported by Amnesty International, Lawyers for Liberty and the Asean Community Against Death Penalty, Sebaran Kasih officially launched the first ever single yesterday, titled 'Arah Tuju - A musical journey of forgiveness and mercy starts now'.
In 2017, Malaysian musician Pannir was found guilty and sentenced to death by the Singapore High Court for trafficking 51.8g of diamorphine at the Woodlands checkpoint in 2014.
Sebaran Kasih is sponsored by a Paris-based NGO against capital punishment called Together Against Death Penalty.
Founder Angelia Pranthaman said they choose to publish the death row inmate's song to capture the attention of the youngsters out there.
"Of course, we also hope to raise pressure on withdrawing the death sentence for the writer, who is my brother Pannir who has been unfairly given the death sentence," Angelia said.
She hoped it would change public perception on death row inmates.
"Music is a universal language and we believe that through the launch of this single, sang by an influential local singer with a notable record in the Malaysian Book of Records, Santesh Kumar, we will make an impact on the legal system in countries still practising capital punishment", she added.
Meanwhile, Amnesty International research consultant Brian Yap said although there had been a significant drop of the death penalty by five percent globally, it still prevails in Malaysia and Singapore.
"Amnesty opposes all capital punishment without any limitations and exception.
"Globally there is a growing trend of countries moving away from the death penalty, so when will Singapore and Malaysia follow suit?" he asked.
Yap said studies have found that despite popular belief, capital punishment does not have an effect in deterring crime.
"That's why we are championing to do away with the death penalty and call on the government to abolish the mandatory death penalty as the first step toward human rights.
"We also ask the Singapore government to impose a moratorium on Pannir Selvam and all death row inmates especially Malaysians kept in their prisons."
He said no one should be given the right to take the life of another, without any exception as stated in the Universal Declaration of human rights adopted by the United Nations in 1948.
The song is expected to hit local broadcasting stations from April 19.