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
AUGUST 5, 2009MalaysiaDEATH PENALTYMALAYSIA: FEDERAL COURT CONFIRMS GALLOWS FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
the Malaysian Federal Court upheld the death sentence imposed on a part-time taxi
- AUGUST 4, 2009MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
MALAYSIA: EX-NAVY TRIO ESCAPE DEATH
three former navy personnel in Malaysia had their death sentences commuted to prison sentences by the Kota Kinabalu Court of Appeal due to doubts over the cause of death and their intention.
- AUGUST 3, 2009MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
MALAYSIA: FILIPINO COUPLE'S DEATH PENALTY UPHELD
the appeal by a Filipino couple sentenced to death in Malaysia on April 27, 2008, was unanimously rejected by the Kota Kinabalu Court of Appeal.
- AUGUST 1, 2009MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
MALAYSIA: DEATH SENTENCE FOR RAPE AND MURDER
judge Azahar Mohamed of the High Court in Johor Barhu, Malaysia, sentenced restaurant assistant Abu Bakar Musa, 25, to death for murdering Syafiqah Mohamad Borhan, 14, a student
- JULY 31, 2009IndonesiaDEATH PENALTY
MALAYSIA: ACEHNESE SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR TRAFFICKING
a 26-year-old Indonesian from Aceh was sentenced to death by the High Court in Shah Alam, Malaysia, for trafficking in 854.2g of cannabis.
- JULY 23, 2009IndonesiaDEATH PENALTY
MALAYSIA: DEATH ROW PRISONER GOES FREE AFTER APPEAL
an Indonesian businessman sentenced to death for drug trafficking in Malaysia was freed by the Federal Court.
- JULY 14, 2009MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
MALAYSIA: FORMER COLLEGE STUDENT TO HANG FOR MURDERING FRIEND
a former college student and her boyfriend were sentenced to death by the Malaysian High Court for murdering her friend.
- JULY 10, 2009MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
MALAYSIA: LOCAL MAN TO HANG FOR MURDER OF SCHOOLGIRL
Malaysian High Court Judge Datuk Clement Skinner sentenced a 31-year-old unemployed local to death by hanging for murdering a nine-year-old schoolgirl.
- JULY 9, 2009MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
MALAYSIA: SALESMAN TO HANG FOR DRUGS
in Malaysia, a 41-year-old salesman was sentenced to death for trafficking in drugs.
- JUNE 25, 2009MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
MALAYSIA: UNEMPLOYED GETS DEATH SENTENCE FOR KILLING GIRLFRIEND
Judicial Commissioner Azman Abdullah of the Malaysian High Court sentenced unemployed man Cheong Kam Kuen, 44, to death for murdering his girlfriend.
- JUNE 12, 2009MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
MALAYSIA; DEATH SENTENCE FOR THREE FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
three men were sentenced to death by the Malaysian High Court for trafficking in 45.49kg of cannabis on November 1, 2002.
MAY 22, 2009MalaysiaDEATH PENALTYMALAYSIA: ELECTRICIAN TO HANG FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
an electrician was sentenced to death by the Malaysian High Court after he was found