MALAYSIA AGREES TO ABOLISH MANDATORY DEATH PENALTY**

The Malaysian government abolished the mandatory death penalty and allowed judges to set alternative punishments for a range of offenses.

The death penalty remains mandatory for several offenses in the Southeast Asian nation, including murder and drug trafficking.

The government will study other proposed punishments for 11 offenses that currently trigger a mandatory death sentence and also for the more than 20 offenses that carry a potential death sentence at the court's discretion.

The death penalty in Malaysia mandates hanging as punishment for a range of crimes, including murder, drug trafficking, treason, kidnapping and acts of terror.

A reformist alliance that took power in 2018 announced it would abolish capital punishment entirely, but the plan stalled due to opposition from political rivals and murder victims' families. Since then, a watered-down proposal of axing only the death penalty in cases where it is mandatory had been mooted.

As well as offenses where capital punishment is mandatory, there are several other crimes where the death penalty can be handed down at the judge's discretion.

   Important points for the exam:

• The Malaysian government abolished the mandatory death penalty and allowed judges to set alternative punishments for a range of offenses.
• The death penalty remains mandatory for several offenses in the Southeast Asian nation, including murder and drug trafficking.
• The government will study other proposed punishments for 11 offenses that currently trigger a mandatory death sentence and also for the more than 20 offenses that carry a potential death sentence at the court's discretion.
• The death penalty in Malaysia mandates hanging as punishment for a range of crimes, including murder, drug trafficking, treason, kidnapping and acts of terror.

   Facts to know:

• Capital of Malaysia: Kuala Lumpur.
• Currency of Malaysia: Malaysian ringgit.
• Official language of Malaysia: Malay.