Malaysian government decides to abolish capital punishment

In Malaysia, the cabinet yesterday decided to abolish the death penalty. Communications and multimedia Minister Gobind Singh Deo said, the government decided to scrap capital punishment following strong domestic opposition to the practice. 

Malaysia's Lawyers for Liberty rights group said death penalty is barbarous, and unimaginably



cruel. It said once the death penalty is scrapped, Malaysia will have the moral authority to fight for the lives of Malaysians facing death sentences abroad.

Capital punishment in Malaysia is currently mandatory for murder, kidnapping, possession of firearms and drug trafficking, among other crimes.