There are powerful arguments on both sides, and no consensus is in sight.
The Singapore Government thus has to find its own stand. It has decided to retain the death penalty as it has been effective in controlling the drug menace.
Said Mr Shanmugam: 'The philosophical and ideological chasms that separate the proponents and opponents of capital punishment are quite unbridgeable.'
Mr Shanmugam was replying to a question by Marine Parade GRC MP Lim Biow Chuan, who wanted the minister to comment on a recent article by Law Society president Michael Hwang in the Law Gazette.
In the article, Mr Hwang had suggested, among other things, that rigorous research 'with full access to relevant information' was needed to determine if the death penalty was 'effective in preventing murder and other capital crimes'.
Noting that Mr Hwang did not specify what kinds of information he had in mind, Mr Shanmugam pointed out that all capital punishment cases here are matters of public record, and often reported extensively in the media.
He also noted that the death penalty has kept the drug problem under control in Singapore, in contrast to many countries around the world.
'In this context, the introduction of the death penalty for drug trafficking has, we believe, had the deterrent effect...As a result of our policies, thousands of young people have been saved from the drug menace.'
The Government's hardline stance on the death penalty has also benefited society at large, he said, noting that a Sunday Times poll of 425 Singaporeans in 2006 showed 96 per cent supporting the death penalty.
The Government does not release official figures on how many criminals are hanged each year and for what offence. But the Home Affairs Ministry has said that 19 were hanged in 2003 and eight in 2005.
Singapore has a mandatory death sentence for anyone caught carrying more than 15g of heroin, 30g of cocaine or half a kilo of marijuana.
According the Home Affairs Ministry, of the 138 people executed between 1998 and 2003, a total of 110 were hanged for such drug crimes.
AARON LOW
THIS WON'T DO
'We have had a constructive and professional relationship with the Law Society for several years.
And for that to continue and for us to take the views seriously, the views that are expressed by the Law Society have to be well thought through and substantiated by facts.
Sound bites and sweeping statements which are contrary to the facts, and which show a basic lack of understanding of our criminal laws and procedure, and approach to sentencing is not really constructive or helpful.'
Law Minister K. Shanmugam, on the comments made by Law Society president Michael Hwang on the penal system in Singapore
