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
- 972
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 972 news items on Malaysia, from 1999 to today.
In Malaysia the death penalty was mandatory for certain offences, among them drug trafficking. A reform in 2023 abolished that mandatory character and opened the review of sentences already handed down, many of which have been commuted. The method is hanging.
The archive follows the reform, the reviews and the cases still open.
Latest news
JUNE 1, 2014VietnamDEATH PENALTYMALAYSIA: VIETNAMESE SEAMSTRESS SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
A Vietnamese seamstress was sentenced to death by hanging by a High Court in Malaysia after she was
- MAY 28, 2014MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
In March 2014, Alaggandiran a/l Vellu was executed after being convicted of murder, said the Malaysian
In March 2014, Alaggandiran a/l Vellu was executed after being convicted of murder, said the Malaysian
MAY 12, 2014ThailandDEATH PENALTYMALAYSIA: THAI DIVORCEE ‘SMILES’ AFTER GETTING DEATH SENTENCE FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
A Thai divorcee was sentenced to death by the Alor Setar High Court in Malaysia for trafficking 23,123
- MAY 6, 2014NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
MALAYSIA: NIGERIAN NATIONAL SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
A Nigerian national has been sentenced to death by a Malaysian court for trafficking
APRIL 16, 2014MalaysiaDEATH PENALTYMALAYSIA: PENANG HAWKER TO HANG FOR MURDER
A burger seller was sentenced to death by the High Court in George Town, Malaysia, for murdering his ex-
APRIL 15, 2014MalaysiaDEATH PENALTYMALAYSIA: WOMAN GETS THE GALLOWS FOR MURDERING STEPMOTHER
A woman received the death sentence at the High Court in Shah Alam, Malaysia, after she and her step
- APRIL 10, 2014MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
Malaysia - The Federal Court in Putrajava upheld the death sentence of Mohd Nizam Mohamad
Malaysia - The Federal Court in Putrajava upheld the death sentence of Mohd Nizam Mohamad
- MARCH 7, 2014MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
the execution of death-row prisoner P. Chandran scheduled for early in the morning was halted, after a
the execution of death-row prisoner P. Chandran scheduled for early in the morning was halted, after a
- FEBRUARY 10, 2014MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
the Federal Court of Malaysia, set aside the death sentence on a Sudaneese, Mohannad Taha Ismail, for the
the Federal Court of Malaysia, set aside the death sentence on a Sudaneese, Mohannad Taha Ismail, for the
- FEBRUARY 7, 2014MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
MALAYSIA: SALESMAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
A water filter salesman was sentenced to death by the High Court in Malaysia for trafficking in 8,445gm of
- FEBRUARY 7, 2014MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
MALAYSIA: FORMER LORRY DRIVER SENT TO THE GALLOWS FOR KILLING FRIEND
A Malaysian High Court sentenced a former lorry driver to the gallows after he was found guilty of
FEBRUARY 6, 2014MalaysiaDEATH PENALTYMALAYSIA: THREE IRANIANS SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
Three Iranians were sentenced to death at a High Court in Malaysia today for trafficking a total of 2.324
- JANUARY 1, 2014MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
In Malaysia capital crimes include murder...
In Malaysia capital crimes include murder...
DECEMBER 9, 2013MalaysiaDEATH PENALTYMALAYSIA: GERAKAN CAMPAIGN AGAINST DEATH PENALTY
Gerakan launched its anti-death penalty campaign in a bid to abolish the controversial law
- NOVEMBER 25, 2013MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
MALAYSIA: THAI WOMAN GETS DEATH SENTENCE FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
A 36-year-old Thai woman was sent to the gallows at High Court in Alor Setar, Malaysia
NOVEMBER 8, 2013UzbekistanDEATH PENALTYMALAYSIA: 3 UZBEKS GET DEATH FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
Three Uzbek friends were sentenced to death in Malaysia for trafficking more than 10kg of
- NOVEMBER 7, 2013MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
the Federal Court in Malaysia upheld the conviction and death sentence
the Federal Court in Malaysia upheld the conviction and death sentence
NOVEMBER 7, 2013MalaysiaDEATH PENALTYMALAYSIA: DEATH SENTENCE FOR 4 SECURITY PERSONNEL WHO KIDNAPPED COUPLE
Four security personnel were sentenced to death after being found guilty by the High Court in Malaysia
- OCTOBER 24, 2013MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
MALAYSIA: INDONESIAN GETS DEATH FOR KILLING HIS COUNTRYMAN
In Malaysia, a 39-year-old Indonesian was sentenced to the gallows after he was found guilty
- OCTOBER 16, 2013MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
a 21-year-old Romanian was recently sentenced to death by the High Court
a 21-year-old Romanian was recently sentenced to death by the High Court
OCTOBER 7, 2013MalaysiaDEATH PENALTYMALAYSIA: FOUR INDONESIANS GET DEATH SENTENCE
Four Indonesian men were sentenced to death in Malaysia after the High Court found
- OCTOBER 4, 2013NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
MALAYSIA: THREE NIGERIAN STUDENTS SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
Three Nigerian college students were sentenced to death by a High Court in Malaysia for trafficking
- SEPTEMBER 30, 2013MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
a free trip to Malaysia has become the final destination
a free trip to Malaysia has become the final destination
SEPTEMBER 13, 2013MalaysiaDEATH PENALTYMALAYSIA: HIGH COURT SENTENCES GERMAN TO DEATH FOR DRUGS
In Malaysia, a high court outside the capital Kuala Lumpur found Bebou Akpo
- SEPTEMBER 11, 2013MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
the Federal Court Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia
the Federal Court Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia
- AUGUST 22, 2013MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
the High Court in Muar, Malaysia, sentenced a 55-year-old rubber
the High Court in Muar, Malaysia, sentenced a 55-year-old rubber
- AUGUST 14, 2013MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
a Court of Appeal in Malaysia upheld the conviction and death sentence on five men
a Court of Appeal in Malaysia upheld the conviction and death sentence on five men
- AUGUST 5, 2013MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
MALAYSIA: MAN SENT TO THE GALLOWS FOR WIFE'S MURDER
The High Court in Alor Setar, Malaysia, sentenced a businessman to death by hanging
- JULY 25, 2013NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
MALAYSIA: NIGERIAN STUDENT SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR CANNABIS TRAFFICKING
The High Court in Shah Alam, Malaysia, sentenced a Nigerian college student to death after he
JULY 19, 2013MalaysiaDEATH PENALTYMALAYSIA: GUINEAN MAN SENT TO THE GALLOWS FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
A Guinean trader was sentenced to death by hanging by the High Court in Malaysia after he