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
- JANUARY 1, 2002MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
The King alone is empowered to commute death sentences
The King alone is empowered to commute death sentences
- JANUARY 1, 2002MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
On december 21, 2001 state narcotics chief Supt Othman...
On december 21, 2001 state narcotics chief Supt Othman Harun said having small amounts of drugs does not mean that pushers can escape the gallows
- JANUARY 1, 2002MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
On november 8, 2001 a National Dadah Agency report...
On november 8, 2001 a National Dadah Agency report said 18,043 offenders were arrested under the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 and Dangerous Drugs Act (Special Preventive Measures) 1985 in the first nine months of 2001
- JANUARY 1, 2002MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
Section 302 of the Penal Code carries a mandatory death...
Section 302 of the Penal Code carries a mandatory death sentence for murder
- JANUARY 1, 2002MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
More than 200 people have been hanged in Malaysia since...
More than 200 people have been hanged in Malaysia since a mandatory death penalty was introduced for convicted drug traffickers in 1975
- JANUARY 1, 2002MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
Under Hudud laws, an unmarried women who is pregnant...
Under Hudud laws, an unmarried women who is pregnant faces the death penalty
- JANUARY 1, 2002MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
The Malaysian High Courts only try criminal cases punishable...
The Malaysian High Courts only try criminal cases punishable with the death penalty
- DECEMBER 29, 2001MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
Malaysian Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, commenting...
Malaysian Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, commenting on the death sentence and life imprisonment passed on the 19 Al-Ma'unah members, said the government has never tolerated violent acts like the one perpetrated by the Al-Ma'unah group and people shou
- DECEMBER 28, 2001MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
A court in Malaysia sentenced three leaders of a Muslim...
A court in Malaysia sentenced three leaders of a Muslim sect to death by hanging after convicting them of armed rebellion to create an Islamic state in the multi-cultural nation
- DECEMBER 27, 2001MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
Malaysia's High Court declared that an Islamic sect...
Malaysia's High Court declared that an Islamic sect was guilty of armed rebellion and 19 of its members could face the death penalty
- DECEMBER 26, 2001MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
Following a letter from a concerned reader who lamented...
Following a letter from a concerned reader who lamented the rape of an eight-year-old girl in front of her parents in Kepong, saying that convicted rapists deserve to die, The Paper That Cares took up her rallying cry and conducted a public poll which rec
- DECEMBER 21, 2001MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
State narcotics chief Supt Othman Harun said having...
State narcotics chief Supt Othman Harun said having small amounts of drugs does not mean that pushers can escape the gallows