The death penalty has long been a topic of intense debate worldwide, and Malaysia is one of the few countries that still practices capital punishment by hanging for crimes such as murder, drug trafficking, and terrorism.
This method, which is rooted in historical practices, was designed to ensure a quick and decisive end for the convict. However, the process involves meticulous planning, specialised equipment, and significant costs.
How much does it cost?
According to Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department in charge of legal affairs, Datuk Liew Vui Keong, the cost borne by the government for hanging is RM1,975 per convict, and each execution takes less than 15 seconds to complete.
Additionally, the government allocates RM800 for burial purposes if the convict’s body is not claimed by heirs or family members.
In Malaysia, the rope used in the hangings isn’t the ordinary kind you may see outside. Instead, it’s imported and made from the highest quality hemp, ensuring durability and reliability.
The rope is then wrapped in soft leather to prevent injury to the convict’s skin during the execution process. Each rope also comes with a serial number and the average cost ranges between RM4,000 and RM5,000, reflecting the rigorous testing it undergoes for durability.
An integral part of the hanging process is a device known as the ‘brass knuckle,’ which is attached to the rope. This device is designed to break the convict’s neck swiftly during the execution, ensuring a quick and relatively painless death.
The execution process
When the convict’s head is placed inside the noose, they stand on a trapdoor elevated at a height of 5.18 meters.
Within 15 seconds of the gear being pulled, the trapdoor opens completely, causing the convict to take a plunge.
The entire execution is designed to be swift, with the convict’s life ending within 30 seconds to a minute. However, the body will remain hung for 30 minutes before it is taken down and placed on a trolley.
Linking to Zulfarhan’s case
On Tuesday (Jul 23), the Court of Appeal unanimously found six former students of the National Defence University of Malaysia (UPNM) guilty and sentenced them to death by hanging for their involvement in the murder of Naval Cadet Officer Zulfarhan Osman Zulkarnain.
Zulfarhan’s death, resulting from 90 steam iron burns that caused approximately 80 percent of his body to be scalded, has sparked renewed debate about the use of the death penalty in Malaysia.
The brutality of Zulfarhan’s murder has led some to argue that the death penalty is a just response to such a heinous crime.
However, organisations like the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM) argue against this form of punishment.
While expressing sympathy for Zulfarhan’s family, SUHAKAM maintained that the death penalty was neither a fair nor effective solution, adding that the irreversible nature of the death penalty does not allow for rectification in cases of judicial errors.
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