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 offenses punishable by death, and abolish natural-life prison sentences. Alternatives to the death penalty include whipping and imprisonment of between 30 to 40 years. The move has been cautiously welcomed by rights groups and applies to 34 offenses currently punishable by death, including murder and drug trafficking. More than 1,300 people facing the death penalty or imprisonment for natural life can seek a sentencing review under the new rules.