Malaysia abolishes mandatory death penalty for serious crimes.

Malaysia's parliament has passed legal reforms to remove the mandatory death penalty, reduce the number of offences punishable by death, and abolish natural-life prison sentences. The move has been cautiously welcomed by rights groups. The new amendments will allow alternatives to the death penalty, including whipping and imprisonment of between 30 to 40 years. Life imprisonment sentences will be retained, but the new jail term will replace all previous provisions that call for imprisonment for the duration of the offender's natural life. More than 1,300 people facing the death penalty or imprisonment for natural life can seek a sentencing review under the new rules.