Paving the way for change: Charting a bold research agenda following Malaysia’s abolition of the mandatory death penalty

July 2023 saw Malaysia initiate a landmark legal reform through its abolition of the mandatory death penalty. As a result, there are presently 1,341 individuals awaiting resentencing by the Malaysian Federal Court (Amnesty International, 2024). Yet despite this considerable progress, critical gaps remain in addressing the fallout from this change. This collaboration pursues the following three key objectives. First, given that Malaysian prisons are operating at 106% capacity (Birkbeck, 2024), we will explore policy solutions to ease the overcrowding resulting from mass resentencing. Second, we will identify deficiencies in rehabilitation programmes for individuals transitioning from death row to the general prison population and, ultimately, society. Third, we will analyse the economic impact of resentencing. Eliminating the death penalty reduces the costs arising from lengthy legal proceedings and appeals but increases expenses for incarceration and rehabilitation (Lundberg, 2019). This project is supported by the University of Bristol’s Research Development International Collaboration Award for 2024–2025.