LFL hammers 'arrogant, childish and silly' S'pore minister

Lawyers for Liberty (LFL) described Singapore's Law and Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam as arrogant over his remark that some Malaysian ministers are "ideologically opposed" to the death penalty.

In a series of tweets, LFL advisor N Surendran also rubbished some of the minister's claims, as reported by Singapore's Straits Times (ST), following the stay of execution granted to Malaysian drug mule P Pannir Selvam.

Shanmugam had said it is not possible for Singapore to stop executions of Malaysians as it would undermine the rule of law in the republic.

"Let me be quite clear, it's not possible for us to do so, regardless of how many requests we receive.

"It is not tenable to give a special moratorium to Malaysians and impose it on everyone else, including Singaporeans who commit offences which carry the death penalty," he added.

Shanmugam also said some ministers are "ideologically opposed" to the death penalty but urged Malaysia to respect the death penalty imposed in Singapore, which he claimed was an "effective deterrent" against drug offences.

Surendran took offence with Shanmugam's "ideologically opposed" remark, which he claimed was aimed at Malaysia's de-facto law minister Liew Vui Keong, who had written to the Singapore government over Pannir's case

"Shanmugam's attack on Liew, dismissing him as ideological etc, is arrogant and unbecoming. As a senior minister, he shouldn't take such a tone on a minister of a friendly country. Liew wrote a letter to the Singapore government appealing for the life of a Malaysian drug mule. What's wrong with that?" he asked.

In a second tweet, the lawyer also said Shanmugam had claimed that the death penalty deterred drug trafficking without any basis.

"He gives no proof of this. All the studies show execution does not deter traffickers. He then childishly suggests that Malaysia 'arrests the traffickers' before they enter Singapore. Silly talk for a cabinet minister," he added.

'Timid Singaporeans dare not criticise gov't'

Surendran then took a swipe at the lack of "freedom of expression" in Singapore.

"Shanmugam claims Singaporean people support the death penalty for drugs. How does he know I wonder? There's barely any freedom of expression in Singapore.

“Faced with repressive laws, timid Singaporeans dare not criticise their government. Malaysia is a beacon of freedom in comparison," he said.

Meanwhile, LFL executive director Latheefa Koya took a jab at Shanmugam's tweet on Vesak Day, saying it is a reminder to treat others with kindness and compassion.

Responding to this, Latheefa tweeted: “Wow, this message of kindness and compassion coming from the very guy who strongly advocates hanging of poor Malaysians who are lured in as drug mules.”

According to the Straits Times report, Shanmugam said Malaysia made three requests to stop executions of Malaysians in Singapore, two of whom are drug traffickers since the Pakatan Harapan government came to power in May last year.

The minister revealed that last year, about 30 percent of drug traffickers arrested in Singapore were Malaysians and nearly 30 percent of heroin seized was brought in by Malaysians.

"How do we go easy on Malaysians in the face of these statistics? And if we did, what will it mean for the rule of law? It will become a joke if there is a request made and we go easy. That is not the way Singapore works," he said.

He also remarked that Malaysia can "keep traffickers" in the country if they are arrested before entering Singapore.

Yesterday, the Singapore Court of Appeal granted Pannir's application to stay his execution and enable him to challenge the clemency process.

Pannir was convicted on June 27, 2017 by the Singapore High Court for trafficking in 51.84 g of diamorphine at Woodlands Checkpoint on Sept 3, 2014.