Come, let's debate: Singapore to UK billionaire Richard Branson on demise penalty | World News

Singapore invited UK billionaire Richard Branson to a dwell televised debate with house affairs and regulation minister Ok Shanmugam on its drug coverage and demise penalty after the entrepreneur's weblog publish on the topic.

Within the weblog publish, Richard Branson had mentioned, “Singapore nonetheless finds itself on the improper facet of historical past” owing to its continued use of the demise penalty, significantly for drug offences and highlighted execution of convicted Malaysian drug trafficker Nagaenthran Ok. Dharmalingam this yr.

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Nagaenthran Ok. Dharmalingam was hanged after being discovered responsible for trafficking 43 grams of heroin into Singapore in 2009.

Singapore’s ministry of house affairs refuted Richard Branson’s remarks on Saturday saying that the drug trafficker “knew what he was doing and that he was not intellectually disabled.”

“Mr. Branson might use this platform to display to Singaporeans the error of our methods and why Singapore ought to dispose of legal guidelines which have stored our inhabitants secure from the worldwide scourge of drug abuse,” the ministry mentioned.

His “flight to and lodging in Singapore shall be paid for,” it added.

The ministry additionally defended Singapore's drug coverage stating that the measures have been supposed to guard the nation and its residents from the hazards of medication.