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
FEBRUARY 12, 2012Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTYMALAYSIA DEPORTS SAUDI JOURNALIST
Malaysia deported a young Saudi journalist who is wanted in his home country over a
FEBRUARY 10, 2012MalaysiaDEATH PENALTYMALAYSIA: THAI WOMAN TO HANG FOR TRAFFICKING IN COCAINE
In Malaysia, a Thai woman was sentenced to the gallows by the High Court after she
- FEBRUARY 8, 2012MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
MALAYSIA: ‘BLASPHEMOUS’ SAUDI POET WILL BE EXTRADITED TO SAUDI ARABIA
A Saudi poet and writer, Kashghari Hamza, who fled over a week from his country to avoid threats
- JANUARY 31, 2012MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
an Iranian mechanic was sentenced to death by the High Court
an Iranian mechanic was sentenced to death by the High Court
JANUARY 26, 2012MalaysiaDEATH PENALTYMALAYSIA: IRANIAN MAN ESCAPES DEATH SENTENCE
A 27-year-old Iranian man escaped the gallows in Malaysia after the High
JANUARY 11, 2012MalaysiaDEATH PENALTYMALAYSIA: MURDER TRIO TO HANG
Three men's five years of freedom came to an end today when their acquittal on a charge of murdering
JANUARY 10, 2012MalaysiaDEATH PENALTYMALAYSIA: FILIPINO WOMAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR COCAINE TRAFFICKING
A Filipina was sentenced to death by the High Court in Malaysia for trafficking in cocaine
- JANUARY 4, 2012MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
to a contract cleaner for drug trafficking. Judicial
to a contract cleaner for drug trafficking. Judicial
- JANUARY 1, 2012MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
In Malaysia capital crimes include murder...
In Malaysia capital crimes include murder...
- DECEMBER 31, 2011MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
in Malaysia, Justice Mohd Yazid Mustaffa sentenced interior designer
in Malaysia, Justice Mohd Yazid Mustaffa sentenced interior designer
- DECEMBER 30, 2011MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
a 65-year-old motorcycle shop owner was sentenced to death
a 65-year-old motorcycle shop owner was sentenced to death
- DECEMBER 28, 2011MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
MALAYSIA: INDONESIAN WOMAN GETS DEATH FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
Indonesian woman Maggie Taissya Olyvia, 27, was sentenced to death by Malaysian High Court Judicial Commissioner Mohd Zaki Abdul Wahab for trafficking 656.15g of heroin and 185.14g of monoacetylmorphine at the Custom, Immigration and Quarantine Complex in