House Arrest Act Proposed Specifically for Remand Detainees to Address Prison Overcrowding – Saifuddin

KUALA LUMPUR: The proposed House Arrest Act is aimed at addressing prison overcrowding, particularly involving remand detainees who make up a significant portion of the prison population while awaiting trial.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail stressed that the proposal was not new, saying he had put it forward as one of the Home Ministry’s (KDN) initiatives since 2024 to reduce prison overcrowding and ensure that the country’s correctional system could be managed more effectively.

“The concept we have discussed from the beginning is clear. For remand detainees who meet the requirements, the court could consider allowing them to stay at home under electronic monitoring until their trial date.

“Serious criminal cases have already been identified for exclusion from this mechanism.

“We do not yet have an act or law governing house arrest. Previously, I proposed introducing one specifically for remand detainees, who are a major contributor to prison overcrowding,” he said in a video uploaded to his Facebook page on Sunday.

Saifuddin Nasution said the prison population comprises those who have been convicted and are serving their sentences, as well as remand detainees whose court proceedings have yet to be concluded.

He said remand detainees are individuals who have been charged but are either denied bail or unable to post bail, resulting in their detention in prison while awaiting trial.

“So, the combination of these two groups — convicted prisoners and remand detainees — contributes to overcrowding in our prisons. For example, we currently have 41 prisons with a prison population of about 93,000, while our prison capacity is 75,000,” he said.

He said that if the proposed legislation is passed, the court could consider allowing eligible remand detainees to stay at home, with their movements monitored using electronic devices until their trial date.

Saifuddin Nasution said the Cabinet had also given its approval in principle for the Home Ministry to begin the process of drafting and tabling the House Arrest Act in Parliament.

“The original objective remains the same — to reduce prison overcrowding and ensure that the country’s correctional system can be managed more effectively. That has been the original context and purpose of the House Arrest Act that we have discussed from the beginning.

“If the bill is passed, we can allow these remand detainees to stay at home and equip them with modern monitoring devices to track their movements until their trial date. That was the original intention we discussed,” he said.

Bernama