On April 3rd 2023, Malaysia passed a historic reform to remove the mandatory death penalty for 11 serious crimes, such as murder and terrorism. The new law will also allow more than 1,300 prisoners on death row to seek a review of their sentences, which could be replaced by other punishments, such as whipping and imprisonment of 30 to 40 years. Malaysia’s deputy law minister said that capital punishment was irreversible and had not worked as a deterrent to crime.
However, not everyone agrees with this decision. Some Taiwanese politicians and activists have criticized Malaysia for being too lenient and soft on criminals. They argue that the death penalty is necessary to maintain public order and justice, and that abolishing it would encourage more crimes and violence. They also point out that Taiwan has maintained the death penalty despite international pressure, and that it has helped to reduce the crime rate and protect the rights of victims.
Taiwan executed four people in 2023, all of whom were convicted of murder. The last execution in Malaysia was in 2017, when two men were hanged for drug trafficking. Taiwan’s justice minister said that the death penalty was a matter of national sovereignty and public opinion, and that Taiwan would not follow Malaysia’s example. He said that Taiwan respected Malaysia’s choice, but hoped that Malaysia would respect Taiwan’s choice as well.
