On World Day Against Death Penalty, Malaysia's silence was deafening

On the 2025 World Day Against the Death Penalty, Amnesty International Malaysia’s interim executive director Vilasini Vijandran has issued a statement.

“Pannir Selvam’s funeral today [10 October] should never have taken place. We are heartbroken not only by Singapore’s unrelenting cruelty and continued use of the death penalty in violation of international law and standards, but also by the limited action and public condemnation by the Malaysian government of the repeated executions across the border.

“When Malaysian nationals are executed abroad in violation of international law and standards, the government has a moral duty to speak – clearly and decisively, against the use of this cruel and inhumane punishment.

“Across the world, we are witnessing a troubling rise in executions driven by flawed ‘security’ narratives that falsely claim that the death penalty has a unique deterrent effect on crime.

“In Singapore, this narrative has already claimed 12 lives this year alone – 10 of them for drug-related offences, including four Malaysians – in blatant disregard of international human rights law, which restricts its use to the ‘most serious crimes’,” said Vilasini.

“Two years ago, Malaysia made a decision grounded in humanity and human rights to abolish the mandatory death penalty. It has since commuted over 1,000 death sentences and announced plans for further studies into the issue. These steps signal important progress towards aligning national laws with human rights standards.

“However, that humanity cannot cease at our borders; especially not when Malaysians and others continue to be executed abroad while the Malaysian government stands mutely on the sidelines,” Vilasini added.

“As Asean chair, Malaysia must lead by example. Ending the death penalty at home must go hand-in-hand with speaking out against its use in neighbouring countries.

“Malaysia’s journey must not end with abolishing the mandatory death penalty but must necessarily extend to full abolition and the protection of all those facing the death penalty. Silence cannot be justified in the face of cruelty and unlawful executions.” – Amnesty