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
- OCTOBER 22, 2008MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
MALAYSIA: MAN TO HANG FOR TRAFFICKING
an odd-job worker in Shah Alam, Malaysia, was sent to the gallows for trafficking in drugs three years ago.
- OCTOBER 16, 2008MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
NURUL HUDA MURDER CASE: ACQUITTED ON GROUNDS OF INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
citing incomplete investigations and insufficient evidence, the Malaysian Federal Court set aside the murder conviction and death sentence of a former security guard
- OCTOBER 10, 2008MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
MALAYSIA. DEATH FOR SMUGGLING DRUGS
the Malaysian High Court sentenced a 61 year old senior citizen to death after
- OCTOBER 8, 2008MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
MALAYSIA. TWO MEN GET DEATH SENTENCE FOR TRAFFICKING IN CANNABIS
the Malaysian High Court sentenced two men to death by hanging after they were found guilty of trafficking
- OCTOBER 8, 2008MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
MALAYSIA. DEATH SENTENCE FOR FOUR UPHELD
four lorry drivers, sentenced to death for the murder of a factory worker six years ago, will remain in Death
SEPTEMBER 26, 2008IndonesiaDEATH PENALTYMALAYSIA: ACEHNESE WORKER SENTENCED TO DEATH
a court in Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia, passed the death sentence on an Acehnese migrant worker from Indonesia named Junaidi Nurdin, 32, for distributing 979 grams of hemp in the country.
- SEPTEMBER 21, 2008MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
MALAYSIA. MAN SETENCED TO HANG FOR MURDER, TWO FRIENDS FREED
the High Court of Malaysia sentenced a self-employed man to hang after finding him guilty of murdering a blacksmith, but freed two of his friends of the same charge.
- SEPTEMBER 18, 2008IndonesiaDEATH PENALTY
INDONESIA: TWO INDONESIANS, MALAYSIAN GET DEATH SENTENCE FOR DRUG DEALING
an Indonesian district court sentenced two Indonesians and a Malaysian to death for illegally distributing ecstasy pills in the country, media reports said.
- SEPTEMBER 12, 2008MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
MALAYSIA. DEATH PENALTY NOT THE WAY TO ADDRESS CRIMINALITY: AMNESTY
"it is the responsibility of governments to address criminality effectively without resorting to the death penalty," said Amnesty International Malaysia executive director Nora Murat.
- AUGUST 29, 2008MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
a policeman in Malaysia who was sentenced to death for murdering singer Along
a policeman in Malaysia who was sentenced to death for murdering singer Along
- AUGUST 22, 2008MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
MALAYSIA: DEATH SENTENCE FOR UNEMPLOYED MAN FOUND GUILTY OF MURDER
the Malaysian High Court sentenced an unemployed man who was found guilty of killing a food trader 11 years ago to death.
- AUGUST 4, 2008MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
TWO NIGERIANS TO HANG IN MALAYSIA FOR MURDER
the appeal by two Nigerians against the death sentences was dismissed by the Malaysian Federal Court.