Last Friday, the government announced its intention to abolish mandatory death sentencing -- returning discretionary power to judges in sentencing for capital crimes. The relevant legislative amendments to abolish mandatory death sentencing are expected to be tabled in October’s parliamentary sitting, and to come into effect by next January. But will these amendments receive the whole-hearted support of Parliament and is this, as some suggest, a step toward the abolition of the death penalty? Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to lawyer New Sin Yew.