COMMENT | Give reformed Pannir Selvam another chance

COMMENT | My heart and mind go out to P Pannir Selvam, a Malaysian in Changi Prison, Singapore, who is fighting the death penalty.

I was very surprised to read the news last week that Pannir had lost his appeal when his application for leave to challenge the public prosecutor’s refusal to issue him a Certificate of Substantive Assistance (CSA) was dismissed.

I understand that Pannir was denied the CSA even though he cooperated with the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) of Singapore, giving all the details that he possibly knew.

Personally, I would like to appeal for Pannir to be given a new trial. The death penalty is not an effective deterrent to crime.

As a Malaysian artiste, I feel responsible to talk on behalf of Pannir as I have worked on his songs together with the NGO Sebaran Kasih.

Pannir is a passionate songwriter...