A rousing start: Ramli (seated centre) and Saifuddin (on Ramli’s right) witnessing the launch of the celebration at the Esplanade in George Town. — LIM BENG TATT/The Star
GEORGE TOWN: A draft to amend the Prisons Act and introduce a new law on home detention is currently under review by the Attorney General’s Chambers before being tabled in Parliament.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said the move would pave the way for implementing home detention as an alternative to imprisonment, especially for remand detainees and those convicted of non-serious offences.
“We will table it this year. At the policy level, it has been approved by the Cabinet.
“It is now at the stage where the Attorney General’s Chambers is developing the amendment matrix,” he said after launching the 235th Prisons Day celebration in Jalan Padang Kota Lama yesterday.
Saifuddin said the new Prisons Act would provide a legal framework for a more humane approach to home detention, helping to ease prison overcrowding while allowing inmates to serve their sentences within the community.
“Our current imprisonment rate is 245 per 100,000 population, compared to the global average of 145 per 100,000.
“We currently have 81,000 inmates, with 27,000 of them on remand.
“If we can filter and target those involved in minor offences, they can serve their detention at home while wearing monitoring devices,” he said.
He said about 6,000 inmates were already serving their sentences in the community and the rehabilitation approach had shown positive results.
“We are shifting from a punitive model to one focused on correction and rehabilitation.
“There is a stark difference in recidivism rates, where 12 out of every 100 incarcerated individuals reoffend, compared to just one in 800 among participants in community-based programmes.”
He said the government also planned to amend the Compulsory Attendance Order Act to expand its scope to include those serving up to 10 years in prison, compared to the current limit of three to four years.
Saifuddin said the Step Up initiative, supported by the private sector to employ inmates through reintegration programmes, had also received strong interest.
“More than 1,225 companies participated, with some hiring 10, 30 or even up to 100 of our prospects.
“They do not need to pay levies or visa fees, and these prospects can contribute to their families,” he said.
Earlier at the celebration, various exhibitions and performances, including police combat demonstrations and drama plays, were held before hundreds of visitors.
Penang Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Ramli Ngah Talib was present to grace the event.
In his speech, Saifuddin said the Prisons Department is prepared to train 10,000 inmates this year to work in critical industries, reducing reliance on foreign labour in key sectors.
