Richard Branson refuses to debate with Singaporean ministers on the issue of the death penalty
SINGAPORE: British billionaire Sir Richard Branson declined Singapore’s invitation to participate in a live televised debate with Law and Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam on the republic’s death penalty.
“I decided to decline this invitation. This is because: televised debates – limited in time and scope, always at risk of prioritizing personalities over issues – do not give any meaning to the death penalty,” he said in his blog post on Monday.
“It also turns serious debate into spectacle,” added the Virgin Group founder.
Another reason is “this discussion should involve local people.”
On Oct 22, Singapore’s Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) invited Branson as part of a response to Branson’s Oct 10 blog post titled “World Day Against the Death Penalty: What’s Up with Singapore?”.
According to the ministry, Branson “can use this platform to show Singaporeans the wrong way and why Singapore should repeal the law that has succeeded in keeping the population safe from the scourge of global drug abuse.”
Among other things, the MHA said Branson’s claim that a Malaysian, D. Nagaenthran, had a “confirmed intellectual disability”, remained suspended.
“We have made it clear several times that it is not true,” MHA said.
source – BERNAMA
