Malaysia proposes House Arrest Act to ease prison overcrowding of remand inmates
Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail announced a draft House Arrest Act that would let courts place eligible remand detainees under electronic monitoring at home.
Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, Malaysia's Home Minister, said the government will draft a House Arrest Act to address chronic prison overcrowding, especially caused by remand detainees awaiting trial. He noted that the country currently operates 41 prisons holding 93,000 inmates against a capacity of 75,000. The proposed law would allow courts to order house arrest with electronic monitoring for eligible detainees, excluding serious offenses.
The Home Ministry has been discussing this measure since 2024, and the cabinet has granted in-principle approval for its parliamentary submission. If enacted, the bill would free space in prisons while monitoring detainees until their trial dates.
Why it matters
Overcrowded prisons strain resources and human rights; the bill could relieve pressure while maintaining judicial oversight.
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