In line with the new Government’s commitment as enshrined in Promise 27 of the Government’s Manifesto to revoke mandatory death in all Acts, on 28 June 2018, SUHAKAM organised a National Conference on the Death Penalty and it was attended by representatives from the relevant Government agencies, Members of Parliament, diplomatic corps, religious bodies, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), legal practitioners, academicians and students. As an outcome of the Conference, SUHAKAM prepared a report of the Conference with the following recommendations to the Government: i. That the Government uphold its commitment under Promise 27 of its Manifesto, which is to revoke mandatory death penalty in all Acts; ii. That the Government establish a moratorium on the use of the death penalty pending the review on the relevant laws; and iii. That the Government accede without hesitation to the ICCPR and the Second Optional Protocol to the ICCPR which aims at the abolition of the death penalty. Commissioner Dato’ Mah Weng Kwai delivering the welcoming remarks during SUHAKAM National Conference on the Death Penalty SUHAKAM submitted a copy of the report to the Speaker and Secretary of the House of Representatives as well as to the Special Committee on Security Laws. SUHAKAM hopes that the Government would seriously consider the report of the National Conference and uphold its commitment to abolish the mandatory death penalty. However, SUHAKAM still maintains the position that the death penalty for all crimes should be abolished and be replaced with other alternatives. 64 SUHAKAM ANNUAL REPORT 2018