[UPDATED] Sabah's Peter Anthony release: Prisons Department denies double standards

The Prisons Department in Malaysia has refuted allegations of unfair treatment in the release of former Sabah infrastructure minister Datuk Peter Anthony through the Licensed Prisoner Release Programme (PBSL). The department clarified that Peter, like all PBSL applicants, underwent the same screening and assessment process as other prisoners.

PBSL allows eligible prisoners to serve the remainder of their sentence in the community under supervision, and it is not a pardon or a reduction of the original court-imposed sentence. The programme is open to all eligible prisoners, regardless of their background or influence, and the release does not waive the remaining court-imposed sentence.

The department emphasized that PBSL is a structured community rehabilitation program for those who meet the eligibility criteria, and prisoners released under the programme continue serving their sentences in the community, subject to conditions and monitoring. The issue gained attention recently amid discussions about former prime minister Najib Razak's pardon bid, with opposition parties accusing the government of applying double standards in granting pardons or releases to convicted individuals, particularly in high-profile cases.