More than 1,300 people facing the death penalty or life imprisonment in Malaysia – including those who have exhausted all legal appeals – can seek a sentencing review under the new rules passed on Monday (Apr 3).
The amendments apply to 34 offences currently punishable by death, including murder and drug trafficking. Eleven of those have stipulated death as the mandatory punishment.
For now, life imprisonment sentences, defined by Malaysian law as a fixed term of 30 years, will be retained.
The fate of Siti Zabidah’s son lies in the hands of the courts, which will decide on a possible alternative sentencing or punishment.
Alternatives to the death penalty under the new rules include caning and a jail term of up to 40 years.
Siti Zabidah said she would stand by her son whatever happened.
“As long as I’m alive, I’ll give him strength,” she said.