Post colonial hangover? A deadly serious discussion about the mandatory death penalty in Malaysia and Singapore

Please join us for a lecture hosted by Essex Law School at the University of Essex.

Is the threat of death truly the best deterrent?

Explore the deeply rooted legacy of the mandatory death penalty in Malaysia and Singapore, both of which inherited much of their legal frameworks from British colonial rule. This lecture aims to provoke critical reflection on the ethical and legal justifications of retaining the mandatory death penalty in modern legal systems, questioning whether it serves justice or perpetuates an outdated colonial “hangover”. By the end, it is hoped that participants will gain a deeper understanding of how post-colonial legal systems in Southeast Asia wrestle with issues of justice, punishment, and the long shadow of colonial influence.