TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – The Legislative Yuan on Friday approved a KMT proposal for a referendum against the abolition of the death penalty, which has been condemned as unnecessary.

The motion passed by 54 votes against 48 in the 113-seat legislature after hours of discussion, the Liberty Times reported. Critics said a referendum was unnecessary as there were no plans to end capital punishment, with one execution having taken place earlier this year.

The death penalty has received wide support in opinion polls, but the KMT said rulings by the Constitutional Court showed a move to restrict the number of executions.

Since the government did not plan to end capital punishment, there was no need to ask the public for its opinion on the issue, the DPP said. The ruling party also said that organizing a nationwide referendum would cost at least NT$900 million (US$29.84 million).

Each additional question would add a price tag of NT$150 million, said DPP Legislator Rosalia Wu (吳思瑤). The KMT, backed by the Taiwan People’s Party, also proposed a referendum opposing martial law, but the Legislative Yuan has not voted on the measure yet. Critics also dismissed the need for such a plebiscite as the government had no plans to impose martial law.

Critics of the KMT proposal also alleged that the question it submitted for the capital punishment referendum was too vague. If the plebiscite went ahead, the question would be, “Do you agree with the policy that judges in appellate courts do not need unanimous agreement to sentence a defendant to the death penalty?”

The Central Election Commission said in March it would study the proposal after the legislative vote. However, officials added that the KMT referendum plan seemed illogical as it was asking the government not to implement a policy that was not under consideration anyway.