No special treatment in Peter Anthony’s release, says Prisons Department

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 12 — Malaysia's Prisons Department clarified that former Sabah Infrastructure Minister Datuk Peter Anthony's release under the Licensed Prisoner Release Programme (PBSL) was granted after meeting required eligibility and undergoing the same screening and assessment as other prisoners considered for the programme.

The department emphasized that PBSL does not cancel, reduce, or shorten a court-imposed sentence. Instead, prisoners on PBSL continue serving their remaining sentences while residing in the community under supervision and monitoring by the Malaysian Prisons Department. To be eligible for PBSL, a prisoner must first serve at least one-third of their sentence, but meeting this requirement does not guarantee release.

Applications undergo a thorough review by a PBSL committee chaired by the Commissioner-General of Prisons, considering factors such as conduct, rehabilitation progress, readiness to return to the community, and housing suitability. The department stressed that Anthony's release did not waive the remainder of his sentence and he remains subject to all conditions and regulations.

Peter Anthony was sentenced to three years in prison and fined RM50,000 for falsifying documents related to a maintenance contract at Universiti Malaysia Sabah. His conviction and sentence were upheld on appeal, and he began his sentence in March 2025, ultimately being released under PBSL in March 2026. MCA president Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong criticized Pakatan Harapan for applying double standards, demanding full sentences for high-profile offenders while overlooking Anthony's early release after serving about a year of his three-year sentence.