KUALA LUMPUR: The Registration of Criminals and Undesirable Persons (Amendment) Bill 2026 has been tabled for its first reading in the Dewan Rakyat.
The Bill, which seeks to introduce a “spent convictions” mechanism, was tabled by Deputy Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Shamsul Anuar Nasarah on Wednesday (Oct 21).
The mechanism is intended to give former offenders who meet specified conditions, including remaining crime-free for a set period, a second chance.
“The second and third readings of the Bill will be tabled during the same session,” said Shamsul Anuar.
In February, Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said the proposed Bill received Cabinet approval on May 21 last year, allowing certain criminal records to be treated as spent after individuals fulfil the eligibility requirements and remain crime-free for a specified period.
He said the amendment to the Registration of Criminals and Undesirable Persons Act 1969 (Act 7) was intended to give those concerned a second chance, in line with efforts to incorporate the values of compassion and social justice into policy.
According to the Blue Bill Book, the amendment proposes introducing three new sections, namely Sections 13A, 13B and 13C, into Act 7.
Section 13A provides for registrable particulars to become spent, including the eligibility requirements, the applicable crime-free period and the circumstances under which the particulars would no longer qualify to become spent.
Section 13B sets out the effects of registrable particulars becoming spent.
“Upon the registrable particulars becoming spent, the registrable particulars shall be treated as no longer registered in the register and as if the person has not been convicted of the registrable offence to which the spent registrable particulars relate.
“Even though the registrable particulars have become spent, they shall remain recorded in the register for record-keeping purposes by the Registrar,” read the Blue Bill.
Section 13C provides for the revival of registrable particulars that have become spent if the person is convicted of an offence specified in the First Schedule during or after the expiry of the crime-free period.
“If the registrable particulars of the person are revived, they shall be treated as if they had never become spent under the Act 7,” it said.
