The Singapore Court of Appeal on 7 October 2025 rejected the final application by Malaysian death row inmate Pannir Selvam Pranthaman for a stay of execution, clearing the way for his scheduled hanging on 8 October 2025.
The decision marked the end of Pannir’s legal avenues in Singapore.
His lawyer, Too Xing Ji, had sought to delay the execution, arguing that the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) might need to review his eligibility for a Certificate of Substantive Assistance based on information he provided to Malaysian authorities about a cross-border drug network.
In a written decision, Justice Woo Bih Li dismissed the application summarily, stating there was “no basis to grant the present application to order a stay of execution.”
He ruled that there was “nothing exceptional whatsoever about the circumstances of the present case,” rejecting any argument for the court to exercise its inherent jurisdiction to halt the execution.
Community organiser Kokila Annamalai from the Transformative Justice Collective (TJC) confirmed the outcome in a Facebook post at 8.34pm, stating that prison authorities had informed Pannir’s family to attend an identification procedure at 9am the following morning.
According to the New Straits Times (NST), Malaysian lawyer N. Surendran confirmed that this was the family’s final legal challenge.
Reactions from lawyers and activists
Surendran described the ruling as “deeply unjust,” saying, “There were good grounds and the stay should have been allowed by the court. Now there is nothing left to prevent the execution tomorrow.”
He further described Pannir as “an exemplary individual whose sentence should be commuted,” noting that he had written poetry and published books while on death row.
Surendran urged both governments to act immediately, stating, “Even now, we urge Singapore not to proceed with the execution and for the Malaysian government to intervene urgently.”
Amnesty International also condemned the decision, criticising Singapore’s use of the death penalty for drug-related offences.
The organisation reiterated its call for a moratorium, arguing that the punishment violates international human rights norms.
Public and civil responses across Malaysia and Singapore
Civic and religious groups across Singapore organised four vigils on 7 October to show solidarity with Pannir and his family.
Independent journalist Kirsten Han shared that the latest execution notice received by Pannir’s family was the third overall and the second this year, describing the repeated experience as “traumatic, stressful, and exhausting every time.”
Nearly 100 people also gathered outside the Singapore High Commission in Kuala Lumpur, holding candles and signs calling for compassion and clemency.
The vigils aimed to highlight justice and humanity amid continuing efforts to halt executions under Singapore’s capital punishment regime.
Malaysia confirms no new probe after police interview with Pannir in Singapore
During a special session in Malaysia’s Parliament, Deputy Home Minister Shamsul Anuar Nasarah confirmed that there would be no further investigation following Pannir’s recent interview with Malaysian police at Changi Prison on 27 September 2025.
Shamsul said Pannir had been questioned for about four hours but that “the information provided by the subject had no operational value.”
He added that although police had investigated three individuals named by Pannir, “no links were found,” and the case was closed with “no room to pursue it further.”
Shamsul also affirmed Malaysia’s respect for Singapore’s judicial process, noting that Singaporean courts had determined that drugs were found taped to Pannir’s leg and hidden in his motorcycle, suggesting he was not merely a courier.
During the same session, Ramkarpal Singh, Member of Parliament for Gelugor, questioned the purpose of interviewing Pannir if no formal investigation was initiated.
He pressed the ministry to clarify whether the case had been referred to the Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP).
Shamsul responded that a referral would only occur once an investigation paper was opened, which had not happened in this case. He reiterated that the authorities had concluded “there was no room to continue” given the lack of actionable evidence.
Ramkarpal expressed disappointment at the explanation, calling the process “perplexing” given Pannir’s willingness to cooperate.
Pannir was convicted by the Singapore High Court on 2 May 2017, for importing at least 51.84g of diamorphine into Singapore via the Woodlands Checkpoint on 3 September, 2014.
He was sentenced to the mandatory death penalty under Singapore’s Misuse of Drugs Act.
His appeal was dismissed by the Court of Appeal on 9 February 2018, and his clemency petition to the President of Singapore was rejected.
Pannir had previously been granted two stays of execution.
The first was in May 2019, when he sought to challenge the clemency rejection and the Public Prosecutor’s decision not to issue him a Certificate of Substantive Assistance.
A second stay was granted in February 2025, which was lifted after the dismissal of his post-appeal application on 5 September.
On 6 September, a further stay request was rejected by the Court of Appeal. This application was linked to disciplinary proceedings Pannir had initiated through the Law Society against his former legal representative.
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