Malaysia scraps mandatory death penalty, in first step to transform criminal justice system

Under the revised law, the 11 offences that previously carried the death penalty may instead be punished with life imprisonment

Human rights groups have lauded the move, but some relatives of murder victims say the changes will only allow killers to walk free

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Malaysian lawmakers in parliament. Photo: Prime Minister’s Office via AP

Published: 4:42pm, 3 Apr 2023Updated: 6:24pm, 6 Apr 2023

Malaysian lawmakers on Monday voted to scrap the mandatory death penalty, sparing more than 1,300 death row inmates as part of sweeping reforms of colonial-era laws which will hand judges greater discretion over sentencing.

Under the revised law, which applies retroactively, the 11 offences that previously carried the death penalty may instead be punished with “life imprisonment”, a jail term of between 30 and 40 years, plus 12 lashes of the cane.

Judges, however, can still hand out the death sentence based on their discretion in a particular case.

Aside from Malaysia, countries in the region that maintain the death penalty include Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam and Myanmar. Laos and Brunei also allow for capital punishment, but have not executed anyone in decades.

Deputy Law Minister Ramkarpal Singh. File photo: EPA-EFE

“Imprisonment for a period of time and caning is seen as the most appropriate alternative punishment for the 11 offences that carries the death penalty,” Deputy Law Minister Ramkarpal Singh said while tabling the amendment in parliament.