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Selangor’s Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah wants the current Pakatan Harapan state government to complete its full term, says Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari.

In a statement, Amirudin said Sultan Sharafuddin wanted the current administration to focus on safeguarding the welfare of the people, rather than dissolving the state assembly to follow Parliament’s dissolution.

This means the election for state seats in Selangor will only be held next year.

It follows an audience the sultan granted Amirudin at Istana Bukit Kayangan this morning.

The menteri besar also said he briefed Sultan Sharafuddin on the state government’s preparations for possible floods as well as the Selangor state budget for 2023. He said the annual state budget will be tabled at the legislative assembly this year.

Parliament has been dissolved paving the way for the 15th general election (GE15), Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob has announced.

“In line with Article 40(2)(b) and Article 55(2) of the Federal Constitution, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong has approved my request to dissolve Parliament today, Monday, Oct 10, 2022,” Ismail said in a special address.

He added that the dates for nominations and polling will be decided by the Election Commission (EC).

He maintained that the decision to dissolve Parliament was to return the mandate to the people in view of the political instability in the country after three different administrations in the span of two and half years.

“The people’s mandate is a powerful antidote for the country to achieve political stability and elect a government that is firm, stable and respected after GE15,” he said.

Malaysia’s Law minister, Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar announced in a press statement that the government has agreed to abolish the mandatory death penalty, giving judges discretion in sentencing.

The Cabinet had also agreed for a further study to be carried out on the proposed substitute sentences for 11 offences carrying the mandatory death penalty.

Why it matters: Mandatory death sentence are imposed as the mandatory punishment for certain offences, meaning that judges are not able to consider the circumstances of the crime or of the defendant before sentencing.

The crimes punishable by death in Malaysia are:

• Murder
• Drug trafficking
• Treason
• Waging war against the Yang di-Pertuan Agong (the King)
• Terrorism
• Kidnapping or abducting in order to murder
• Possession of Firearms
• Abetting Mutiny (Armed Forces)
• Hostage taking

There are still a total of 1,359 people were reported to be on death row as of November last year. About 70% of them under sentence of death have been convicted of drug trafficking under section 39(b) of the Dangerous of Drugs Act, 1952.

Under section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act, those in possession of 15 g or more heroin and morphine; 1,000 g or more opium (raw or prepared); 200 g or more cannabis; and 40 g or more cocaine will receive the mandatory death sentence.

What to watch: Despite the government announces the abolishment of mandatory death penalty, it is not yet official until the Parliament passes the legislative amendment.

The big picture: Death sentence is not totally abolished, but instead of mandatory, judges are given the discretion on whether to sentence it to the offenders or not.

The accused will be given a chance to defend themselves if they are innocent or the crime is not as heavy as to be sentenced to death.