Authorities say capital punishment had been an ineffective deterrent while rights groups welcomed the vote as an 'important step' that could have a knock-on effect elsewhere in Southeast Asia.
More than 1,300 convicts will be eligible for a sentence review.Malaysia's parliament on Monday passed sweeping legal reforms to remove the mandatory death penalty, trim the number of offences punishable by death, and abolish natural-life prison sentences, a move cautiously welcomed by rights groups.
Malaysia's move comes even as some southeast Asian neighbours have stepped up use of capital punishment, with Singapore last year executing 11 people for drug offences and military-ruled Myanmar carrying out its first death sentences in decades against four anti-junta activists.Death penalty 'has not brought results'
The amendments passed apply to 34 offences currently punishable by death, including murder and drug trafficking. Eleven of those carry it as a mandatory punishment.
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