AN amendment to expunge the record of individuals convicted of non-violent or minor offences after a reasonable period is being mulled, says Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.
He said the ministry is currently in the process of amending the Registration of Criminals and Undesirable Persons Act 1969 (Act 7).
The Act serves as a legal authority to register individuals who have been convicted of offences listed in the First and Second Schedules of Act 7 in the criminal register.
“The proposed amendments have been agreed upon in principle by the Cabinet on May 21.
“Among them is the introduction of a ‘spent’ mechanism, allowing individuals who have not committed new offences within a reasonable period to be considered as having ‘no record’ in the criminal register,” he said.
He was responding to a question by Wong Chen (PH-Subang) who had asked whether the government is considering erasing the records of those convicted for non-violent or minor offences.
Saifuddin Nasution said the legal reform will provide a second chance to those previously convicted to enable them to pursue opportunities such as employment and further education.
