Saifuddin Nasution: Proposed House Arrest Act focuses on remand detainees and prison overcrowding

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 20 — The proposed House Arrest Act aims to tackle prison overcrowding, with a focus on remand detainees, who constitute a significant portion of the prison population awaiting trial. Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail revealed that this proposal was not a new concept, as he had suggested the idea as one of the Home Ministry’s (KDN) measures since 2024 to enhance the country's correctional system and alleviate prison overcrowding.

He emphasized that serious criminal cases would be excluded from this mechanism. As of now, a law or act on house arrest does not exist. In a video shared on his Facebook page, Saifuddin Nasution explained that prison inmates include those convicted and serving their sentences, as well as remand detainees whose court proceedings have not concluded.

Remand detainees are individuals who have been charged but denied bail or cannot afford to post bail, leading to their incarceration until their trial date. With 41 prisons housing a total of 93,000 inmates, the prison capacity of 75,000 is insufficient. Should the proposed law be enacted, eligible remand detainees could be placed under house arrest, with their movements monitored through electronic devices until their trial.

The Cabinet has also expressed in-principle support for KDN to initiate the drafting and submission of the House Arrest Act in Parliament. Saifuddin Nasution reiterated that the initial goal remains the same: to reduce prison overcrowding and improve the management of the country's correctional system. If the bill is approved, remand detainees can be released into their homes, equipped with advanced devices to monitor their movements until their trial date, thereby fulfilling the original purpose of the House Arrest Act.