Amnesty report reveals sharp decline in Malaysia’s death sentences but gaps remain

KUALA LUMPUR, May 18 — Human rights non-governmental organisation Amnesty International Malaysia today unveiled its 2025 report, revealing a notable decrease in the implementation of death sentences in the country.

While the findings indicate progress, the organisation stressed the need to address existing gaps to achieve full abolition of capital punishment in Malaysia.

According to the report, Malaysia has made significant progress in reducing the use of the death penalty over the past year

Presenting the reports, Amnesty International Malaysia spokesperson Divya Shesshsan Balakrishnan stated that the number of new death sentences has continued to fall since the landmark abolition of the mandatory death penalty in 2023, marking a turning point in the nation’s criminal justice system.

Citing official figures, the report revealed that Malaysian courts imposed 15 new death sentences in 2025, a substantial one-third reduction from the 24 issued in 2024 and significantly lower than the 38 recorded in 2023.

Notably, no new death sentences were reported in the states of Sabah and Sarawak last year.

The report also highlighted the trend of appellate courts scaling back the application of the death penalty.

The Court of Appeal alone commuted 42 death sentences, including 24 related to drug offences, and acquitted four individuals.

Nevertheless, three death sentences were upheld for men convicted of murder, two of whom are foreign nationals.

Amnesty International’s report noted that as of November 2025, 97 individuals remained on death row, a historic low compared to over 1,200 in the previous year.

Despite these encouraging developments, the organisation warned that gaps in legislation continue to pose threats to these advancements.

“Malaysia has shown that change is possible,” Divya said.

“Fewer people have been sentenced to death, and that matters. But without full abolition, Malaysia still stands with the minority of countries still holding on to an unjust and irreversible punishment,” he added.

Since 2018, Malaysia has enacted several reforms aimed at diminishing the use of the death penalty, including a moratorium on executions, abolishing mandatory death sentences, and reviewing thousands of cases.

“Malaysia has laid the groundwork for abolition, but momentum is clearly faltering,” said Divya.

“Without a clear and time-bound roadmap, these gains risk being reversed. Therefore, it is time for concrete action to chart the way forward towards full abolition,” he added.

Looking ahead, Amnesty International Malaysia urged the government to commit to the full abolition of the death penalty in law while maintaining the moratorium on executions indefinitely.

The organisation also called for the removal of the death penalty for all offences, including drug-related crimes, and the commuting of all existing death sentences.