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KUALA LUMPUR – Wisma Putra has extended its condolences to the family of Nagaenthran K. Dharmalingam, the Malaysian death row inmate who was executed in Singapore this morning.
In a statement, the Foreign Ministry said that the Malaysian government “extends its appreciation over the response tabled by the Singaporean government and respects the country’s legal system”.
“At the same time, the Malaysian government also extends its appreciation to the Singaporean government on the assistance provided throughout the detention and trial period for Nagaenthran.”
It added that the Malaysian High Commission in Singapore will continue to provide adequate consular assistance to his family members.
The ministry said the cabinet has been informed of the execution of Nagaenthran, and also expressed gratitude to the non-governmental organisations that fought to spare the man from the death penalty, apart from lobbying against capital punishment.
The ministry said the Malaysian High Commission had closely followed the case since Nagaenthran’s arrest in Singapore on April 22, 2009.
“The High Commission has carried out its responsibility in providing consular assistance to Nagaenthran throughout his detention to ensure his rights and welfare were always protected.”
The hanging at around 6am in the republic’s Changi Prison was carried out despite global condemnation and last-minute appeals from family and lawyers.
Nagaenthran, who was arrested in 2009 for trafficking 42.72g of heroin into the city-state, was certified during his trial to have an IQ of 69.
However, the trial judge ruled that he was on the borderline of having a functional intellect and the court concluded that he was aware he was committing a crime.
A last-ditch clemency application by the Malaysian citizen to overturn his 2010 conviction was dismissed by Singapore’s Court of Appeal yesterday evening.
In explaining the Malaysian government’s efforts to aid Naraenthran, the ministry said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob and Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Abdullah had sent a letter to their counterparts in Singapore to consider reducing the sentence.
It said the Yang di-Pertuan Agong had also penned a letter of the same nature to the Singaporean president last December. – The Vibes, April 27, 2022
