Malaysia
2026
- GOVERNMENT
- federal parliamentary constitutional monarchy
- CONSTITUTION
- August 31, 1957, amended several times, last in 2007
- LEGAL SYSTEM
- based on English common law; legislative acts reviewed by the Supreme Court; Islamic law applies to Muslims in family and religious matters
- LEGISLATIVE SYSTEM
- bicameral, Senate (Dewan Negara) and House of Representatives (Dewan Rakyat)
- JUDICIAL SYSTEM
- civil courts include: Federal Court, Court of Appeal, and High Courts; Sharia courts include Sharia Court of Appeal, High Sharia Court, and subordinate Sharia tribunals. Sharia court decisions cannot be appealed in civil courts
RELIGIONS
60% Muslims, 19% Buddhists, 9% Christians, 6% Hindus, other
From the country
MAY 14, 2017MalaysiaDEATH PENALTYMALAYSIA: TRADER SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
A trader was sentenced to death by the High Court in Muar after he was found guilty of trafficking in cannabis in March last year.
MAY 7, 2017MalaysiaDEATH PENALTYMALAYSIA: MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR KILLING EX-FIANCE IN KLUANG
A former tyre shop assistant was sentenced to death by the High Court in Muar for murdering his ex-fiance when the woman wanted to marry another man.
- MAY 4, 2017MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
MALAYSIA: SINGAPOREAN GETS DEATH FOR DISTRIBUTING DRUGS IN JOHOR
A 46-year-old Singaporean contractor was sentenced to death by the High Court in Johor Baru after he was found guilty of two counts of drug distribution.
APRIL 16, 2017MalaysiaDEATH PENALTYMALAYSIA: HOTEL MANAGER GETS DEATH SENTENCE FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
A hotel manager was sent to the gallows by the Magistrate’s Court in Muar after he found guilty of trafficking 82.38 gm of heroin last year.
MARCH 15, 2017MalaysiaDEATH PENALTYMALAYSIA: BROTHERS EXECUTED AT KAJANG PRISON
Brothers Rames and Suthar Batumalai, who were convicted of murder in 2010, were executed at Kajang Prison early the morning, said Amnesty International Malaysia (AIM).
FEBRUARY 27, 2017MalaysiaDEATH PENALTYMALAYSIA: DEATH ROW INMATE SPARED THE NOOSE THANKS TO ROYAL PARDON
A man who was sentenced to death for drug trafficking in 2009 has received a second chance at life after Selangor Ruler Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah granted him a pardon.
- FEBRUARY 27, 2017MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
MALAYSIA: INDONESIAN TO HANG FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
A 33-year-old Indonesian man was sentenced to death by the High Court in Tawau for trafficking in 707 grams of syabu.
FEBRUARY 19, 2017MalaysiaDEATH PENALTYMALAYSIA: LORRY ATTENDANT SENT TO GALLOWS FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
A lorry attendant was sentenced to death by the Muar High Court after he was found guilty of drug trafficking at Taman Puteri, Kluang last year.
- FEBRUARY 3, 2017MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
MALAYSIA: TWO FRIENDS SENT TO THE GALLOWS FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
Two friends were sentenced to death by the High Court in Kuala Lumpur for drug trafficking.
- JANUARY 26, 2017MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
MALAYSIA: MAN SENT TO GALLOWS OVER DRUG TRAFFICKING CHARGE
A man was sent to the gallows by the High Court in Ipoh after he was found guilty of trafficking in drugs.
- JANUARY 16, 2017MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
MALAYSIA: GUINEAN COLLEGE STUDENT SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
A 29-year-old Guinean college student was sentenced to death by the High Court in Kuala Lumpur after he was found guilty of trafficking in 3,304.6gm of cocaine.
- JANUARY 11, 2017MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
MALAYSIA: BRUNEIAN MAN AND MALAYSIAN ACCOMPLICE SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
The Sabah High Court sentenced a Bruneian man and his Malaysian accomplice to death after they were