KUCHING: The Federal Government is conducting a study to determine whether the moratorium on executions that has been in effect since 2018 should be maintained or terminated.

Deputy Director General (Policy and Development), Legal Affairs Division (BHEUU), Prime Minister's Department Dato Dr Punitha Silivarajoo said the study is one of the two main issues made a focus in efforts to improve the country's legal system.

According to her, another issue involves the proposed amendment of Section 97 of the Children's Act 2001 regarding the detention period for children found guilty of murder.

She explained that under the current provisions, children who commit the offense cannot be sentenced to death, but instead can be detained for an indefinite period.

Accordingly, the proposed amendment aims to set a detention period of 20 years, subject to the consideration of the State Pardon Board.

"Information sessions related to the two issues will be held in all states in Malaysia with the involvement of relevant parties including the State Secretary or Yang di-Pertua Negeri according to the suitability of each state," she said.

She said this when met by reporters after paying a courtesy call on the Sarawak Governor Tun Pehin Sri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar and his wife, Toh Puan Datuk Patinggi Fauziah Mohd Sanusi at the Astana Negeri Sarawak here on Tuesday.

Dato Dr Punitha added that the visit, which also involved the Malaysian Prison Department, aimed to share the latest developments regarding the study of the moratorium on the execution of the death penalty and the proposed amendment to the Children's Act 2001.

The meeting also served as a platform to provide information on the two mentioned legal issues to the Sarawak Governor.

Also present were Sarawak Attorney-General Dato Sri Saferi Ali, Director of BHEUU Policy and Research Section Kevin Geh Kien Meng, Chief Assistant Director of Policy and Research Section Wan Nur Izzati Wan Yusoff and Sharon Silveraj, Assistant Director of Policy and Research Section Nur Shahkierin Abd Manan, Deputy Commissioner-General of Prison Hafidz Othman, Deputy Head of the Detention and Execution Unit, Prison Security and Order Division Rosli Payiman and Deputy Director of the Administration Unit Norlela Jarnie. -UKASnews