COMMENT | Today is Deepavali, the great Hindu festival of lights.

The action of the Singapore government, however, has cast great darkness over what is supposed to be a bright and happy day.

Nagaenthran K Dharmalingam, 33, is scheduled to be executed on drug trafficking charges on Nov 10.

I have previously written about how Nagaenthran is documented to have an IQ of 69, which is considered by international standards to be an intellectual impairment and treated as a disability.

He explained that he became involved in this mess when he tried to borrow RM500 for his father’s heart operation and was assaulted and threatened by a man who also threatened to kill his girlfriend.

Despite these circumstances, Nagaenthran was sentenced to death for entering Singapore with 42 grams (less than three tablespoons) of diamorphine strapped to his thigh.

Public uproar

There has been a...