MCA Civil Society Movement Coordination Bureau head Ng Kian Nam said this would enable Parliament to gauge whether the people were in support of the proposal.

“Based on our findings, there is a large number of people who are against the move. Since the government has said no to a referendum, it is only fair that MPs get some feedback from their constituents and then table this in Parliament before a decision is made,” he said.

MPs, he added, should not be the ones to decide on such an important legislation and it was imperative that they got the feedback from the people.

A Bill to abolish the death penalty is expected to be tabled in the Dewan Rakyat this year.

There are currently some 1,200 people on death row for crimes including murder, kidnapping and drug trafficking.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Liew Vui Keong had ruled out holding a referendum on the matter as suggested by former Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Abdul Rahim Noor, saying that there was no provision for it in the Federal Constitution.

Although the Cabinet had in October last year made the decision to abolish the death penalty, Liew said no final decision had been made yet.

Ng said the authorities should look at the number of unresolved murder and murder-cum-rape cases.

“The government is proposing to abolish the death penalty to safeguard the perpetrators’ rights.

“But, what about the rights of murder victims and their families? Haven’t they got rights, too?” he asked.

Ng said a petition to ask the government to do away with the proposal was also gaining ground.

Citing an example, he said more than 500 people had signed a petition at the Taman Bukit Blossom night market here on Thursday.

“And we managed to get the numbers within three hours,” he added.

The event was held jointly by the Alliance Against the Abolition of the Death Penalty and Ng’s “Rasah Sayang” Facebook team.

Ng also said there was no guarantee that national security would not be compromised if the death penalty was abolished.

A recent survey of 3,600 respondents conducted by The Star Online found that about 45% of them felt the death penalty was needed to keep hardcore criminals at bay, while 32% said it was still needed for violent crimes, especially for crimes against children.

Only 23% fully supported a total abolition, saying it has no place in modern society.