If you thought marijuana laws were strict where you live, they are a slap on the wrist compared to the drug laws in Malaysia. It was announced yesterday that 3 men have been sentenced to death by hanging after being found guilty of selling marijuana in a hospital parking lot.
Abdullah Mahmood, 48, Wan Kamaruddin Wan Ahmad, 53, and Saharun Muhamad, 42, were all arrested in August 2007 for selling 4.8 kilograms (10.58 lbs.) of cannabis in a hospital parking lot in the Kelantan providence in the Malaysian Upper Peninsula. These men had previously avoided the death penalty in the initial trial in 2010. The High Court acquitted 2 of the offenders and sentenced the 3rd to 12 years in prison. Unsatisfied with the decision, the prosecution appealed the ruling and a re-trial was granted; the final ruling was announced yesterday and Judge Datuk Azman Abdullah sentenced the 3 men to die.
Drug crimes in Malaysia are among the most strictly punished on the planet. Best-case scenario, if caught with a small amount of controlled substance, is punishable by a heavy fine and instant deportation. Malaysia enforces the death penalty nationwide for convicted drug traffickers.
Malaysia is a very conservative Muslim nation that enforces many aspects of Sharia law and the province of Kelantan is considered more extreme than the rest of the nation. Lawmakers in Kelantan have passed laws that segregate supermarket lines by gender and have banned traditional forms of Malaysian theater. Public performances by women are prohibited if men are present.
Malaysia is a beautiful nation rich in culture and natural wonder. It is highly recommended by world travelers to visit the country in Southeast Asia, but refrain from participating in any illegal activity, especially drug-related activities.
Source: The Examiner, June 22, 2013
