PASIR MAS: Those placed under house arrest will be required to wear location-tracking devices under a proposed law, says Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.
The Home Minister said current laws do allow house arrest.
"This can help reduce the problem of prison congestion in the country," he said after officiating the Santuni Madani with the Commissioner-General of Prisons programme at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Tanjong Bunga here on Saturday (Nov 16).
"There are over 87,000 inmates currently while the prison capacity is only 74,000.
"The ministry is aiming for 28,000 inmates under house arrest when the law is realised," he said, adding that only offenders with remand status in jails will be allowed to be placed under house arrest and not those involved with major crimes like rape or drugs.
He also said that the Cabinet had decided in principle to have such a law and the ministry would hold engagement sessions with various parties before tabling the Bill in Parliament. – Bernama
