Kuala Lumpur: Malaysia's new government said it would abolish the death penalty for all crimes and halt all pending executions, a rare move against capital punishment in Asia that human rights groups hailed as a major advance.

More than 1200 people, including Sydney grandmother Maria Elvira Pinto Exposto, are on death row in Malaysia, which mandates hanging as punishment for a wide range of crimes including murder, drug trafficking, treason, kidnapping and acts of terror.

Malaysia's government says it will abolish the death penalty and halt all executions. Credit:AP

Law Minister Liew Vui Keong announced on Wednesday that the Cabinet had agreed to abolish the death penalty and that amendments to laws with capital punishment were expected to be presented when Parliament resumes Monday, local media reported. Liew couldn't be reached for immediate comment.

Communications Minister Gobind Singh Deo on Thursday confirmed the Cabinet's decision.