May 10, 2010
Tough stance saves lives
<!-- by line --> By Zakir Hussain , POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT
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Mr Shanmugam, who is also Second Home Affairs Minister, was responding to Joo Chiat resident Jack Lin, 26, at a dialogue that capped his visit to the ward. -- ST PHOTO: JONATHAN CHOO
<!-- story content : start --> SINGAPORE has no qualms about taking a tough line on serious crimes and imposing the mandatory death penalty because it believes this stand has saved thousands of lives, Law Minister K. Shanmugam said yesterday. The penalty applies to crimes such as murder, kidnapping and drug trafficking, and Mr Shanmugam believes it has had a deterrent effect and sent a clear signal to drug barons on Singapore's position. He acknowledged it was easy for death penalty opponents to focus on the plight of the individual who faced being hanged.
But the consequences of getting rid of the death penalty had to be considered: 'You save one life here, but 10 other lives will be gone. What would your choice be if you were to make that choice?' Mr Shanmugam, who is also Second Home Affairs Minister, was responding to Joo Chiat resident Jack Lin, 26, at a dialogue that capped his visit to the ward. Mr Lin had asked whether the case of Yong Vui Kong, whose lawyers argued against the mandatory death sentence, would affect the future of such a punishment.
Read the full story in Monday's edition of The Straits Times.
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