Home Ministry, Prisons Dept await Pardons Board letter on Najib's house arrest

KULIM: The Home Ministry and Prisons Department have yet to receive a letter from the Pardons Board regarding the conditional house arrest of former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak. Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail stated that the ministry would await formal notification of the board's decision before deciding on the next course of action.

As of now, no such letter has been received. Saifuddin visited the families of four children who tragically drowned in Taman Desa Kayangan, Sungai Karangan. The ministry needs to thoroughly examine the contents of the letter to understand the specifics of the decision and comply with existing legal provisions. Currently, Najib is serving his prison sentence, with house arrest meaning he will remain outside of prison but at another location.

Saifuddin emphasized the necessity of clarity before taking any action to ensure compliance with the Pardons Board's ruling. Najib had his prison sentence reduced to six years and his fine decreased to RM50 million. If he pays the reduced fine, he will be released on Aug 23, 2028; otherwise, his release date will be Aug 23, 2029.

Saifuddin also mentioned that Malaysia lacks specific legislation governing house arrest, though the ministry has obtained cabinet approval to draft a House Arrest Bill for consideration in Parliament. The bill was initially intended to address prison overcrowding, particularly among remand detainees. With 41 prisons housing around 93,000 inmates against a capacity of only 75,000, Saifuddin proposed the bill to tackle this issue.

If passed, certain remand prisoners could be placed under house arrest, with their movements monitored via electronic devices until their trial dates.