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A moratorium is not an insult to national sovereignty

Leong Sze Wah suggests that the facts of whether mandatory state executions are beneficial or not should be fully analysed and debated

Published

15 years ago

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By Leong Sze Wah

At the start of this year, Mongolia’s President Tsakhia Elbegdorg suspended executions with the aim of reviewing death penalty sentences. He went on to declare his intention to abolish the death penalty altogether.

“The Road to a democratic Mongolia ought to be clean and bloodless, “ he told Parliament. “The majority of the world’s countries have chosen to abolish the death penalty. We should follow this path.”

His comment couldn’t ring truer. Just three years earlier, a large number of states endorsed a United Nation’s resolution that called for a freeze on capital punishment around the world. While non-binding, supporters of Resolution 62/149 hope that it will eventually lead to an end of state executions, if not all, those tied to drug related crimes and political opposition.

Singapore, alongside countries such as the United States, Iran, Sudan and China, voted against it.

Situated near the heart of Asia’s notorious drug production center, the “Golden Triangle” nations of Myanmar, Thailand and Laos, Singapore has always strongly believed that mandatory capital punishment curbs drug trafficking and abuse by the local population.

In a written statement (reproduced on the International Harm Reduction Association’s blog) to the U.N Human Rights Council’s 10th Session March 2009, Singapore’s representative explained:

“The death penalty has deterred major drug syndicates from establishing themselves in Singapore, where there are no widely prevalent syndicated drug activities linked to organised crime, in contrast to…. drug syndicates and cartels that exist elsewhere. Based on estimates in the 2008 World Drug Report, published by the United Nations ……Singapore has one of the lowest prevalence of drug abuse.”

It went onto say “there is no international consensus for or against the death penalty or corporal punishment applied in accordance with due process of law and judicial safeguards ”, a position firmly backed by Law Minister K. Shanmugam who said:

The philosophical and ideological chasms that separate the proponents and opponents of capital punishment are quite unbridgeable. Both sides marshal powerful arguments. On an issue like this, the Government has to take a stand.

– Straits Times, March 2009

Having lived in Singapore and traveled widely elsewhere, I am in no doubt that it is one of the safest countries in the world.

But there are holes in Singapore’s argument.

Firstly a 2002 U.N report has shown that the use of capital punishment to punish any crime cannot be scientifically proven to be a greater deterrent than life imprisonment.

Secondly, there is very little evidence that correlates organized crime with drug abuse. Take Hong Kong for example. It is home to a number of criminal gangs who allegedly control the drug trade in Asia, and ,who sometimes use the city to smuggle through narcotics. But Hong Kong’s percentage of drug abuse is similar to that of Singapore’s- low. It is one of the safest cities in the world, and it has no death penalty.

Thirdly, when Italy and Chile first pushed for a U.N moratorium on executions in 1994, the proposal failed by 8 votes. In 2007, the contentious resolution passed overwhelmingly by 104 votes to 54. Such a surge in numbers, in my mind, shows a international consensus that the death penalty should be put on hold.

And finally, the mandatory death penalty is no safeguard against mistakes and is based on the presumption that the alleged offender is guilty. This contradicts the due process of law.

In an article on Yawning Bread, Alex Au noted:

The young Nigerian Tochi was executed even when, as one judge in the Court of Appeal noted, there was no direct evidence that he ever knew he had heroin in his bags on arrival at Singapore airport. However, the Court held that he should have known; he had been negligent in not checking the packets’ contents. The bottom line is: Negligence is enough for you to lose your life.

– Too proud of our noose, November 2007

So what could be behind Singapore’s reluctance to suspend capital punishment?

During the debate of Resolution 62/149, Singapore’s ambassador to the U.N. Vanu Gopala Menon accused the proposal’s co-sponsors of trying to “impose a particular set of beliefs on everyone else”, and that they had handled the issue not as a debate, but as a lecture.

As Alex Au observed:

As you can see, the ambassador anchored his position on national sovereignty. This reflects Singapore’s tendency to see any criticism of the death penalty as an attempt by foreigners to interfere in our domestic affairs, to impose their ideas on us. You would have noted his snide remark that the EU thinks that “only one set of choices should be respected”.

This prickly response shows how our government instinctively adopts a siege mentality once ‘death penalty’ is mentioned.

– Too proud of our noose, November 2007

Very few people like to be lectured at, particularly when you have steered a politically divided country towards economic and social stability within the space of 50 years.

But a moratorium on the death penalty should not be treated as an insult to national sovereignty, or in other words, your ability to run a country. The facts of whether mandatory state executions are beneficial should be fully analyzed and debated.

As Singapore Law Society president Michael Hwang wrote:

Singapore is sadly lacking a principled and transparent penal policy. Our universities barely cover the study of criminology, and even less the more important study of penology. Possibly, this is because Government has not published detailed statistics of crime and punishment so that social scientists can undertake adequate research on the causes of crime and the effects of current penal policies of prisoners (especially recidivists).

– Law Gazette, January 2009

Let Singapore have that debate.

____________________________________________________________

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Indonesia

Miss Universe cuts ties with Indonesia chapter after harassment allegations

The Miss Universe Organization severs ties with Indonesia franchise due to harassment claims. Malaysia edition canceled.

Women allege body checks before pageant. Investigation launched. Safety prioritized.

Indonesia winner to compete in November finale. Height requirement controversy.

Published

1 year ago

on

14 August 2023

By

WASHINGTON, UNITED STATES — The Miss Universe Organization has cut ties with its Indonesia franchise, it announced days after allegations of sexual harassment, and will cancel an upcoming Malaysia edition.

In the complaint, more than a half dozen women said all 30 finalists for Miss Universe Indonesia were unexpectedly asked to strip for a supposed body check for scars and cellulite two days before the pageant’s crowning ceremony in Jakarta.

Their lawyer said Tuesday that five of the women had their pictures taken.

“In light of what we have learned took place at Miss Universe Indonesia, it has become clear that this franchise has not lived up to our brand standards, ethics, or expectations,” the US-based Miss Universe Organization posted Saturday night on social media site X, formerly known as Twitter.

It said that it had “decided to terminate the relationship with its current franchise in Indonesia, PT Capella Swastika Karya, and its National Director, Poppy Capella.”

It thanked the contestants for their bravery in coming forward and added that “providing a safe place for women” was the organization’s priority.

Jakarta police spokesman Trunoyudo Wisnu Andiko said Tuesday that an investigation into the women’s complaint has been launched.

The Indonesia franchise also holds the license for Miss Universe Malaysia, where there will no longer be a competition this year, according to the New York-based parent organizer.

In a lengthy statement posted to Instagram, Indonesia franchise director Capella denied involvement in any body checks.

“I, as the National Director and as the owner of the Miss Universe Indonesia license, was not involved at all and have never known, ordered, requested or allowed anyone who played a role and participated in the process of organizing Miss Universe Indonesia 2023 to commit violence or sexual harassment through body checking,” she wrote.

She added that she is against “any form of violence or sexual harassment.”

The Jakarta competition was held from 29 July to 3 August to choose Indonesia’s representative to the 2023 Miss Universe contest, and was won by Fabienne Nicole Groeneveld.

Miss Universe said it would make arrangements for her to compete in the finale, scheduled for November in El Salvador.

This year’s Indonesia pageant also came under fire for announcing a “significant change in this (year’s) competition guidelines” with the elimination of its minimum height requirement after it had crowned a winner.

In its statement, the Miss Universe Organization said it wanted to “make it extremely clear that there are no measurements such as height, weight, or body dimensions required to join a Miss Universe pageant worldwide.”

— AFP

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Malaysia

A Perodua service centre in Kuantan, Malaysia went viral for its strict dress code, Perodua responds

A dress code for vehicle servicing? A Malaysian car brand’s service centre dress code signage has puzzled netizens, raising queries about the need for attire rules during a routine service.

The manufacturer responded with an official statement after a flurry of comments, seeking to clarify and apologize.

Published

1 year ago

on

10 August 2023

By

MALAYSIA: A dress code signage positioned at a service centre belonging to a prominent Malaysian car brand has sparked bewilderment among Malaysian netizens, who question the necessity of adhering to attire guidelines for a simple vehicle servicing.

The signage explicitly delineates clothing items that are deemed unsuitable, including sleeveless tops, short skirts, abbreviated pants, and distressed jeans.

The car manufacturer swiftly found itself flooded with comments from both inquisitive and irked Malaysian netizens. This surge in online activity prompted the company to issue an official statement aimed at clarifying the situation and extending an apology.

In a post that gained significant traction on the social media platform, politician Quek Tai Seong of Pahang State, Malaysia, shared an image to Facebook on Monday (7 Aug).

The image showcased a dress code sign prominently displayed at a Perodua Service Centre in Kuantan. Within the post, Quek posed the question: “Is this dress code applicable nationwide, or is it specific to this branch?”

The signage reads, “All customers dealing with Perodua Service Kuantan 1, Semambu, are requested to dress modestly and appropriately.”

Adding visual clarity to these guidelines, the sign features illustrative graphics that explicitly outline clothing items deemed unacceptable, including sleeveless tops, short skirts, short pants, and ripped jeans.

Delineating the specifics of the dress code, the signage stipulates that male visitors are expected to don shirts accompanied by neckties, opt for long pants, and wear closed shoes.

Conversely, female visitors are advised to don long-sleeved shirts, full-length skirts, and closed-toe footwear.

Perodua’s dress code sparks online uproar

Following the rapid spread of the post, Perodua’s official Facebook page found itself inundated with comments from both intrigued and frustrated Malaysian netizens, all seeking clarifications about the newly surfaced dress code policy.

Amidst the flurry of comments, numerous incensed netizens posed pointed questions such as, “What is the rationale behind the introduction of such regulations by the management? We demand an explanation.”

Another netizen expressed their dissatisfaction, arguing against the necessity of the rule and urging Perodua to take inspiration from the practices of other 4S (Sales, Service, Spare Parts, and Survey) automotive dealerships.

A concerned Facebook user chimed in, advocating for a more lenient stance, asserting that attempting to dictate customers’ clothing choices might not be in the company’s best interest.

Someone also commented in an angry tone, “Oi what is this? Going there for car service, not interview or working, right.”

As the discourse unfolded, it became evident that while some inquiries carried genuine weight, others chose to inject humor into the situation, playfully remarking, “If I wanted to buy a Myvi, I should buy or rent a formal attire first.”

“I sell economy rice at a hawker centre, I have never worn a long sleeve shirt and a tie… I guess I will not buy a Perodua car then.”

“I guess they will not serve those who wear short pants.”

Perodua addresses dress code controversy

As reported by Chinese media outlet Sin Chew Daily News, the manager of Kuantan’s Perodua Service Centre had acknowledged that the images on the dress code signage were misleading.

In response, the manager divulged that discussions had transpired with the head office, leading to the prompt removal of the signage to prevent any further misconceptions.

The manager clarifies, “We do encourage visitors to adhere to the dress etiquette, but we won’t go to the extent of restricting their choice of attire.”

He also revealed that currently, no complaints have been directly received from the public.

However, feedback from certain customers was relayed through Perodua’s agents.

Perodua also released an official statement by chief operating officer JK Rozman Jaffar on Wednesday (9 Aug) regarding the dress code on their official Facebook page.

The statement stated the dress code etiquette is not aligned with their official guidelines and they are currently conducting an official investigation on the matter followed by corrective measures to avoid the same incident from happening.

Perodua also extends its apologies for any inconvenience caused.

 

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