PETALING JAYA: The seven youths held over the tahfiz fire last Thursday cannot be punished with the death penalty as they are underage, said Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said. She said that the suspects will be tried in accordance with laws such as Section 97 (1) of the Child Act 2001. However, if the suspects are found guilty of murder, the mandatory death penalty cannot be imposed on them, she said in a statement Thursday. Azalina said the incident should be used as a lesson for all parties, especially parents, in the fight against crime involving children. The early morning fire at the Darul Quran Ittifaqiyah school resulted in the deaths of 21 students and two teachers.

Source: The Star September 21, 2017 05:27 UTC