Will the amended Dangerous Drugs Act apply retroactively?

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The amended Dangerous Drugs Act may apply retroactively, pending parliamentary approval.

DAP's Bukit Gelugor MP Ramkarpal Singh has proposed an amendment to the Dangerous Drugs Act (DDA) that would allow for its provisions to apply retroactively. This proposed change aims to enable a review of sentences for over 700 convicts currently on death row. The amendment bill is scheduled for debate in Parliament either tomorrow or Thursday.
Proposal for Retroactive Application

Ramkarpal Singh has put forward a specific amendment to the DDA that seeks to make its changes effective from a past date. The intention behind this retroactive application is to provide an avenue for relief to individuals who have already been sentenced under the existing laws. This would allow for the re-evaluation of their cases in light of the amended legislation, potentially leading to alternative sentences.
Review of Death Row Sentences

A key objective of the proposed retroactive clause is to facilitate the review of sentences for the approximately 700 individuals presently on death row. The current legal framework mandates capital punishment for certain drug offences, and the proposed amendments aim to introduce more judicial discretion. Applying the amendments retroactively would ensure that those already convicted and awaiting execution could benefit from any new sentencing guidelines or alternative punishments introduced.
Parliamentary Debate and Consideration

The amendment bill to the Dangerous Drugs Act is slated for discussion in Parliament very soon, with the debate anticipated for tomorrow or Thursday. This timing coincides with the conclusion of the current Dewan Rakyat sitting. Ramkarpal Singh has expressed his hope that the government will give serious consideration to his proposed amendment, framing it as a matter of legal principle rather than political contention.

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Will the amended Dangerous Drugs Act apply retroactively?

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