Global calls to spare Nagaenthran's life

SHAH ALAM - People from all over the world are urging for the Singapore government to halt the execution of Nagaenthran K. Dharmalingam, a mentally challenged Malaysian convicted of drug trafficking in Singapore.

The 34-year old was arrested in 2009 and convicted of drug trafficking.

He made multiple appeals citing his intellectual disability but his bids were dismissed and his applications for clemency had also been denied.

His family has been told that April 27 (tomorrow) is the date of the execution.

In a virtual gathering held yesterday, people from Australia, Toronto, Indonesia and Singapore, among others, dedicated poems and songs to Nagaenthran and his family members.

The gathering organised by the Anti Death Penalty Asia Network (Adpan) was conducted via Zoom.

Dr Anjhula Mya Singh Bais, the Chair of the International Board of Amnesty International said the Prime Minister of Singapore should reconsider the execution of Nagaenthran who has been on death row for more than a decade.

“The Prime Minister has to relook the issue and I urge the authorities to establish an official moratorium on all executions, revise the death penalty for drug related offences.

“As a trauma psychologist myself, I am extremely disturbed as Nagaenthran has been diagnosed by a qualified Singaporean psychiatrist with mental disability that gives rise to poor impulse control." she said during the virtual event.

British business magnate Sir Richard Branson who also joined the meeting called for the Singaporean authorities to not carry out the execution.

Meanwhile, participants from Singapore expressed sympathy to Nagaenthran and his family.

“What gives us the right to take life and what gives us the right to be God? We feel sorry for Nagaenthran and his family,” said one of the participants.

Firdaus from Indonesia said death penalty should be abolished describing it as an inhumane practice.

In 2009, then 21-year old Nagaenthran was caught trying to smuggle heroin into Singapore from Malaysia.

His supporters claimed that he had an IQ of 69, which was considered as a disability, and that he was coerced into committing the crime.

Authorities, on the other hand, have justified his conviction, claiming that he "knew what he was doing" at the time of the crime.