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
JULY 25, 2020MalaysiaDEATH PENALTYMALAYSIA: MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR MURDER OF PEPPER BUSINESSMAN
The High Court of Kuching, Malaysia, on 24 July 2020 convicted and sentenced a man, who killed a pepper businessman in 2016, to death.
- JULY 20, 2020MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
MALAYSIA: NOT ALL 6 CONVICTED OF MURDERING DPP DESERVE DEATH SENTENCE, SAYS NGO
A NGO against the mandatory death penalty on 17 July 2020 said not all the six sentenced to hang for the murder of a deputy public prosecutor in 2015 deserve to be sent to the gallows.
JULY 12, 2020MalaysiaDEATH PENALTYMALAYSIA: SIX SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR MURDERING PROSECUTOR
The High Court of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on 9 July 2020 sentenced to death six men for the murder of deputy public prosecutor Datuk Anthony Kevin Morais.
JUNE 20, 2020MalaysiaDEATH PENALTYMALAYSIA: UNDER 15% OF MALAYSIANS SUPPORT MANDATORY DEATH PENALTY, SURVEY SHOWS
Most Malaysians feel the government should keep the death penalty, especially for brutal crimes like murder, where the perpetrator exhibited high levels of intention and aggression, according to a survey by The Centre, a research outfit founded by Umno’s
JUNE 11, 2020MalaysiaDEATH PENALTYMALAYSIA: MURDER ACCUSED FOUND GUILTY, SENTENCED TO DEATH BY HANGING
A man was found guilty for murdering his girlfriend and sentenced to death by hanging by the Kuching High Court on 10 June 2020.
JUNE 10, 2020MalaysiaDEATH PENALTYMALAYSIA: DEATH PENALTY IS CONSTITUTIONAL, FEDERAL COURT TOLD
The Federal Court was told on 9 June 2020 that amendments to make the death penalty mandatory for cases involving drug trafficking and murder were constitutional as the legislature was empowered to do so.
MAY 19, 2020MalaysiaDEATH PENALTYMALAYSIA: FEDERAL COURT UPHOLDS DEATH SENTENCE OF TWO MEN FOR MURDER
The Putrajaya Federal Court on 19 May 2020 upheld the death sentence of two men for the murder of an unemployed man in Butterworth, Penang six years ago.
FEBRUARY 17, 2020MalaysiaDEATH PENALTYMALAYSIA: DRUG TRAFFICKING ACCUSED SENTENCED TO DEATH
A 49-year-old man on 14 February 2020 was sentenced to death by the High Court in Tawau for drug trafficking.
JANUARY 15, 2020MalaysiaDEATH PENALTYMALAYSIA: DEATH PENALTY WON’T BE TOTALLY ABOLISHED, COMMITTEE TELLS VICTIMS’ FAMILIES
The special committee looking into the abolishment of the mandatory death penalty on 15 January 2020 assured the families of murder victims that the court will still have the discretionary powers to decide on whether to impose the sentence.
- JANUARY 1, 2020MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
In Malaysia capital crimes include murder...
In Malaysia capital crimes include murder...
DECEMBER 13, 2019MalaysiaDEATH PENALTYMALAYSIA: APPEALS COURT UPHOLDS DEATH SENTENCE OF BUSINESSMAN FOR MURDER
The Court of Appeal of Putrajaya on 10 December 2019 upheld the death sentence of a businessman for the murder of a scrap metal collector at Kampung Labohan, Kerteh, Terengganu, in December 2015.
DECEMBER 9, 2019MalaysiaDEATH PENALTYMALAYSIA: THREE GET DEATH PENALTY FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
Three men, including two Iranians, on 6 December 2019 were sent to the gallows by the High Court in George Town for trafficking methamphetamine into the country four years ago.