Govt to come up with new law to allow house arrest, says Anwar

 

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said offenders would be required to remain in designated locations such as their homes, care centres or worker dormitories for the duration of their sentence. (Bernama pic)

KUALA LUMPUR: 

The government plans to introduce a law that will allow house arrest as an alternative punishment for certain offences, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said during his 2025 budget speech.

He said under the proposed law, offenders would be required to remain in designated locations such as their homes, care centres or worker dormitories for the duration of their sentence.

Prison officers will set and monitor the conditions for house arrest, which would ensure their compliance with the punishment, he said.

This measure will provide an alternative to traditional incarceration, focussing on rehabilitation while ensuring offenders remain under close supervision,

 Anwar told the Dewan Rakyat.

There are no legal provisions for prisoners to serve their jail sentences under house arrest.

However, Section 43 of the Prisons Act 1995 allows for a prisoner to be released on licence subject to any regulation made by the home minister.

Former prime minister Najib Razak had previously claimed that he was allowed to serve the remainder of his jail term under house arrest following a purported supplementary order issued by the former Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

However, an application for leave to commence judicial review which he filed in an attempt to enforce the purported supplementary order was rejected by the Kuala Lumpur High Court in July.

Najib has appealed against the decision. - FMT