LETTER: In Malaysia, there are several categories of offences that carry the mandatory death sentence.
They include murder, drug trafficking, treason, terrorism, kidnapping, illegal possession of firearms, and hostage-taking.
I do not understand the rationale behind the government proposal to abolish the mandatory death sentence for these offences.
Is it because we are pressured by Amnesty International? Or Suhakam? Human rights activists and civil liberty groups?
The government should be on the side of the victims of those crimes. In this regard, I feel the people should decide the matter in a referendum.
The government in 1971 increased penalties for the illegal possession of firearms. Those found guilty of using firearms to kill or rob faced the mandatory death sentence.
The preventive law stopped people from acting violently. Such violence occurs from time to time in the United States.
The mandatory death sentence should be retained for the sake of keeping Keluarga Malaysia safe.
NOR SHAHID MOHD NOR
Kelana Jaya, Selangor
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of the New Straits Times