PUTRAJAYA, Feb 29 —- A former religious teacher at a school in Selangor escaped the gallows when the Federal Court today commuted the death sentence to 33 years jail and 12 strokes of the rotan for killing his girlfriend, nine years ago.

KUALA LUMPUR, April 3 — Imprisonment for an extended period of time, along with whipping, is seen as the most appropriate alternative punishment for the 11 offences which lead to the mandatory death penalty, said Ramkarpal Singh.

PUTRAJAYA, Aug 21 — The government through the Legal Affairs Division and the Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC) is studying alternative punishments to replace caning which is seen as cruel and inhumane.