Malaysia ranked 10th in the world for executions in 2016, according to an Amnesty International report.

Malaysia executed nine people last year, while at least 36 others were sentenced to death.

Iran ranked second with 567 executions, followed by Saudi Arabia (154), Iraq (88), Pakistan (87), Egypt (44), USA (20), Somalia (14) and Bangladesh (10).

China topped the executions ranking, although Amnesty did not publish an estimate as data on executions are state secrets.

"China has yet to publish any figures on the death penalty. However, available information indicates that thousands of people are executed and sentenced to death in China each year," the report said.

The Amnesty report cites Dewan Rakyat parliamentary replies as stating that at least 1,042 people were on death row as of 2016.

The government in March announced that it was reviewing the mandatory death penalty for drug offences.

However, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Azalina Othman Said said the cabinet has yet to discuss whether to impose a moratorium on the death sentences.