MPs call for postponement of Pannir Selvam’s execution

With just days left before the scheduled execution of Malaysian national Pannir Selvam Pranthaman in Singapore, Members of Parliament (MPs) have called on the Malaysian government to step in and push for a postponement. The execution, set for February 20, has sparked urgent appeals from lawmakers and human rights groups who argue that Pannir’s case warrants further investigation into drug syndicates operating across the region.

Bukit Gelugor MP Ramkarpal Singh led the call for intervention, urging Malaysian authorities to request a stay of execution from the Singaporean government. He stressed that Pannir, convicted for trafficking 51.84g of heroin in 2017, had been a mere drug mule and could provide crucial information on syndicate activities.

Other MPs, including Subang Jaya MP Wong Chen, Bukit Bendera MP Syerleena Abdul Rashid, Batu MP Prabakaran Parameswaran, and former Batu Kawan MP Kasthuri Patto, stood alongside Ramkarpal in advocating against the execution.

Investigation Into Syndicates and Recruiters

Authorities in Malaysia have reportedly opened an investigation file to probe Pannir’s recruiter, the individual who allegedly handed him the illicit package a decade ago. This development has fueled demands for Singapore to allow Pannir’s repatriation to assist in the ongoing probe, potentially shedding light on million-dollar transactions conducted by drug syndicates.

“We hope that Pannir Selvam will be allowed to return to Malaysia to serve his sentence while providing information to facilitate investigations,” Ramkarpal said.

Ramkarpal emphasized that precedent existed for convicted drug traffickers to serve their sentences in their home countries, citing cases involving individuals from Australia, the Philippines, and France who were transferred from Indonesia. The MPs argued that a similar arrangement should be made for Pannir, given the information he could provide to authorities in tackling regional drug networks.

Human Rights Groups Condemn the Execution

Amnesty International Malaysia has strongly condemned Pannir’s scheduled execution, labeling it as unlawful and arbitrary under international human rights standards. The organization highlighted that drug-related offences do not meet the threshold for the “most serious crimes” deserving the death penalty and criticized Singapore’s strict capital punishment laws.

Additionally, Amnesty International pointed out that Pannir was sentenced under Singapore’s mandatory death penalty provisions, which left no room for judicial discretion. The organization also criticized the reliance on legal presumptions under the Misuse of Drugs Act, which places the burden of proof on the defendant instead of requiring the prosecution to establish guilt beyond reasonable doubt.

Urgent Calls for Diplomatic Intervention

With time running out, activists and MPs have urged the Malaysian government to take immediate diplomatic steps to halt the execution. As the current ASEAN chair, Malaysia is seen as having a moral obligation to intervene, leveraging its regional influence to advocate for Pannir’s life to be spared.

Amnesty International has been gathering international support, with over 1,000 petitions signed in recent months calling for Malaysia to secure clemency for Pannir. The organization also noted that Singapore has carried out nine executions between October 2024 and February 2025, eight of which were for drug trafficking offences.

With 113 countries worldwide having abolished the death penalty, human rights advocates insist that Singapore should follow suit and immediately impose a moratorium on all executions. As the clock ticks towards February 20, all eyes remain on the diplomatic efforts to prevent what many believe would be a grave miscarriage of justice.