Malaysia's death row population fell to a historic low of 97 inmates in 2025, down from over 1,200 in previous years, reflecting a significant shift in the country's approach to capital punishment [1, 2]. Courts imposed 15 new death sentences last year, compared to 24 in 2024 and 38 in 2023 [1, 2, 3, 4]. In addition, appellate courts, especially the Court of Appeal, commuted many death sentences, including 42 by the Court of Appeal alone [1, 2]. No new death sentences were imposed in the Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak in 2025 [1, 2].
Amnesty International Malaysia praised the reduction, with spokesman Divya Shesshsan Balakrishnan stating, "This is one of the strongest indicators that Malaysia is already moving away from the death penalty in practice and the law has to now catch up" [1]. She further noted, "Malaysia has shown that change is possible. 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" [2]. Amnesty also urged the government to fully abolish the death penalty and establish a clear reform roadmap [1, 2, 3, 4].
Regional developments contrast Malaysia's trends. Singapore nearly doubled executions from 9 in 2024 to 17 in 2025, including five Malaysians such as Pannir Selvam Pranthaman, who was executed on October 8, 2025 [3, 4]. Amnesty's global report recorded 2,707 executions in 2025 — the highest since 1981 — with most concentrated in Iran, Saudi Arabia, and a few other countries [1, 3, 4]. Ms. Balakrishnan warned, "The surge in executions globally, alongside the continued use of the death penalty in Singapore, underscores the need for Malaysia to reject this punishment and take the lead in abolishing it within Asean, particularly for Malaysians facing execution in neighbouring countries" [3].
Separately, Malaysia is expanding its integrated lung health programme nationwide following the World Health Assembly’s Lung Health Resolution [5, 6]. Health Minister Datuk Seri Dzulkefly Ahmad outlined plans at the Lung Health Forum on May 19, 2026, to establish integrated lung health services in 902 clinics by the end of 2026, including 65 offering occupational health services [5, 6]. The government is promoting AI-assisted chest X-ray screening technologies and workplace lung cancer screening through the LungShield Programme, partnering with organizations like the National Cancer Society Malaysia, AstraZeneca, and IHH Healthcare [5, 6].
The Health Minister said, "Together, these two approaches reflect the very heart of the resolution - advancing an integrated lung health approach through a whole-of-society model that mobilises government, healthcare providers, civil society, and the private sectors towards a shared public health goal" [6].
Amnesty International Malaysia released its 2025 death penalty report on May 18, 2026, highlighting the sharp decline in death sentences and ongoing challenges [2, 3, 4]. Meanwhile, Malaysia targets the end of 2026 to complete the rollout of integrated lung health services nationwide [5, 6].
