Malaysia
Death penalty and prisoners' rights · Archive since 1999
Data card
- Legal status
- Retentionist
- Executions recorded in 2026
- 0
- Executions recorded in 2025
- 0
- First news item in the archive
- JANUARY 1, 1999 · The death penalty is provided for by various laws
- News items in the archive
- 970
Source: Hands Off Cain database, updated to 2026.
Malaysia is classified as Retentionist in the Hands Off Cain database, updated to 2026. In 2026 the association recorded 0 executions in the country, against 0 the year before. The archive holds 970 news items on Malaysia, from 1999 to today.
Latest news
- MARCH 15, 2019MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
MALAYSIA: MAN TO HANG FOR 2017 MURDER
The High Court in Sibu on 14 March 2019 sentenced a 35-year-old man to death after finding him guilty of committing murder.
MARCH 6, 2019MalaysiaDEATH PENALTYMALAYSIA: BAR URGES PAKATAN GOVT TO ABOLISH DEATH PENALTY ‘ONCE AND FOR ALL’
The Malaysian Bar on 5 March 2019 called upon the Pakatan Harapan government to keep its promise and abolish the death penalty at the upcoming Parliament sitting.
JANUARY 30, 2019MalaysiaDEATH PENALTYMALAYSIA: COURT UPHOLDS DEATH SENTENCE ON CHINESE NATIONAL FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
The Court of Appeal in Putrajya on 28 January 2019 upheld the death sentence of a Chinese national who was convicted for trafficking in 4,401.5g of methamphetamine at the Senai International Airport in Johor in 2014.
JANUARY 22, 2019MalaysiaDEATH PENALTYMALAYSIA: NO REFERENDUM ON ABOLISHING DEATH PENALTY, SAYS MINISTER
The government will not hold a public vote on the proposal to abolish the death penalty.
JANUARY 18, 2019MalaysiaDEATH PENALTYMALAYSIA: THREE MURDERERS TO HANG AFTER FINAL APPEALS DISMISSED
Three men lost their final appeals against their death sentences for murder convictions at the Federal Court in Kota Kinabalu on 15 January 2019.
- JANUARY 1, 2019MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
In Malaysia capital crimes include murder...
In Malaysia capital crimes include murder...
- NOVEMBER 30, 2018MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
MALAYSIA: CARWASH WORKER SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING IN JOHOR
A carwash worker on 28 November 2018 was sentenced to death by the High Court in Johor Baru for distributing 99.16g of methamphetamine two years ago.
- NOVEMBER 15, 2018MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
MALAYSIA: CABINET SCRAPS DEATH SENTENCE FOR 33 OFFENCES
The Cabinet has decided that the death penalty for 33 offences under eight acts of law be abolished, and this includes Section 302 of the Penal Code (murder), said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Liew Vui Keong on 13 November 2018.
OCTOBER 26, 2018MalaysiaDEATH PENALTYMALAYSIA: MAN TO HANG FOR KILLING WOMAN IN CONFINEMENT
A security guard was sentenced to death by the Shah Alam High Court on 15 October 2018 after he was found guilty of murdering a woman in confinement, three years ago.
OCTOBER 17, 2018MalaysiaDEATH PENALTYMALAYSIA: SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
Judicial Commissioner Datuk Abdul Wahab Mohamed of the Penang High Court on 8 October 2018 sentenced Keow Sze Teve, 36, to death for dangerous drug trafficking and 16 years jail with 12 strokes of rotan for possession of firearms and bullets.
OCTOBER 16, 2018MalaysiaDEATH PENALTYMALAYSIA: CABINET AGREES ON MORATORIUM OF DEATH SENTENCE FOR MEDICAL MARIJUANA DISTRIBUTOR
The Cabinet has agreed to place a moratorium on the death sentence of Muhammad Lukman, who was sentenced for possessing, processing and distributing medical marijuana (cannabis oil), The Star reported on 12 October 2018.
- OCTOBER 12, 2018MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
MALAYSIA: GOVT HALTS EXECUTION OF 1,200 DEATH ROW INMATES
The execution of the death penalty on 1,200 death row inmates nationwide will be halted with immediate effect, nst.com reported on 11 October 2018.
- OCTOBER 11, 2018MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
MALAYSIA TO ABOLISH DEATH PENALTY; BILL MAY BE TABLED SOON
The Malaysian government has decided to abolish the death penalty and a proposed Bill is expected to be tabled at the next parliament sitting, local media reported on 10 October 2018.
- OCTOBER 4, 2018MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
MALAYSIA: BOYFRIEND, HIS NEW GIRLFRIEND GET DEATH SENTENCE FOR KILLING HIS FIANCÉE
The First Court in Chumphon province on September 28, 2018 sentenced Ronnachai Panchart and his girlfriend, Naruemon Chuaysombat, to death after finding them guilty of involvement in killing the man’s fiancee.
SEPTEMBER 24, 2018MalaysiaDEATH PENALTYMALAYSIA: DEATH SENTENCES COMMUTED FOR 3 MEXICAN BROTHERS
The deaths sentences against three Mexican brothers - Jose Regino, Simon and Luis Alfonso Gonzalez Villarreal - convicted of drug trafficking in Malaysia have been commuted to prison terms, a lawyer said on September 21, 2018.
SEPTEMBER 5, 2018MalaysiaDEATH PENALTYMALAYSIA: TWO AFRICAN MEN SENT TO GALLOWS FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
Two Africans have been sentenced to death for trafficking 2,083g of methamphetamine.
SEPTEMBER 4, 2018MalaysiaDEATH PENALTYMALAYSIA: AMERICAN SENTENCED TO HANG FOR KILLING EX-WIFE
An American man was sentenced to death by hanging in Malaysia for murdering his ex-wife
AUGUST 30, 2018MalaysiaDEATH PENALTYMALAYSIA: DEATH SENTENCE FOR MAN WHO GAVE PATIENTS FREE CANNABIS OIL
A man was sentenced to death in Malaysia for processing cannabis oil and distributing it to patients in need.
JUNE 29, 2018MalaysiaDEATH PENALTYMALAYSIA: GOVERNMENT CONSIDERING REMOVING MANDATORY DEATH PENALTY
The government is looking into the need to make amendments to do away with the mandatory death penalty in legislation pertaining to criminal offences,
- JUNE 6, 2018MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
MALAYSIA. TAN CHUN CHENG AND TAN CHOON HUI SENTENCED TO DEATH
FOR DRUGS
MAY 3, 2018MalaysiaDEATH PENALTYMALAYSIA: DEATH PENALTY NO LONGER MANDATORY FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
Malaysians Against Death Penalty and Torture (Madpet) is pleased that the Dangerous Drugs Amendment Act 2017, which received royal assent on 27 December 2017, has finally, after much delay, come into force on 15 March 2018.
APRIL 4, 2018MalaysiaDEATH PENALTYMALAYSIA: THREE MEN SENT TO GALLOWS FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
Three men, including two Taiwanese nationals, were sentenced to death by the High Court in Malaysia after they were found guilty of trafficking in 8kg of drug into the country.
MARCH 29, 2018MalaysiaDEATH PENALTYMALAYSIA: MAN TO HANG FOR KILLING EX-GIRLFRIEND
The Miri High Court sentenced a man to death by hanging this morning after he was found guilty of killing his ex-girlfriend two years ago.
- FEBRUARY 9, 2018MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
the High Court sentenced to death by hanging S. Pragasam after he was found guilty of trafficking in drugs two years ago.
the High Court sentenced to death by hanging S. Pragasam after he was found guilty of trafficking in drugs two years ago.
- FEBRUARY 8, 2018MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
the Kuala Lumpur High Court sentenced two friends to death by hanging after finding them guilty of trafficking 123.052kg of drugs three years ago.
the Kuala Lumpur High Court sentenced two friends to death by hanging after finding them guilty of trafficking 123.052kg of drugs three years ago.
- JANUARY 25, 2018MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
MALAYSIA: LORRY DRIVER TO HANG FOR TRAFFICKING OVER 45KG OF DRUGS
A lorry driver was sent to the gallows by the High Court after being found guilty of counts of trafficking over 45 kg of drugs, 2 years ago.
- JANUARY 17, 2018MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
MALAYSIA: MALAYSIAN, FOUR INDIAN NATIONALS SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
A Malaysian and four Indian nationals were sent to the gallows by the Shah Alam High Court for drug trafficking.
JANUARY 15, 2018MalaysiaDEATH PENALTYMALAYSIA: DEATH SENTENCES UPHELD FOR NINE FILIPINOS OVER 2013 INCURSION
A Malaysian court upheld death sentences handed down to nine men from the Philippines in connection with an 2013 incursion into the Malaysian part of Borneo island by Philippine fighters seeking to stake an ancient claim.
- JANUARY 1, 2018MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
In Malaysia capital crimes include murder...
In Malaysia capital crimes include murder...
DECEMBER 20, 2017MalaysiaDEATH PENALTYMALAYSIA: TWO NIGERIAN STUDENTS SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR DRUGS TRAFFICKING
Two Nigerian college students were handed the death sentence by the Shah Alam High Court after they were found guilty of trafficking 3.5 kilogrammes of methamphetamine three years ago.