MALAYSIA. DEATH PENALTY NOT THE WAY TO ADDRESS CRIMINALITY: AMNESTY

September 12, 2008: "it is the responsibility of governments to address criminality effectively without resorting to the death penalty," said Amnesty International Malaysia executive director Nora Murat. She said public support for the death penalty was most often based on the "erroneous belief that it is an effective measure against crime". "The reasons for a seemingly strong public support for the death penalty can be complex and lacking in factual foundation. If the public are fully informed of the reality of the death penalty and how it is applied, many people may be more willing to accept abolition (of the death penalty)," she said at an inter-college debate on the death penalty.
The debate on "Should Malaysia Abolish the Death Penalty?", organised by Amnesty International Malaysia, was between ATC College and Help University College. "The decision, adopted by the UN highest political body with universal membership, is a clear recognition of the growing international trend towards worldwide abolition of the death penalty, endorsed by the UN Secretary-General." (Sources: Bernama, 12/09/2008)