Equal access to house arrest? That’s not Home Ministry’s call, says Saifuddin Nasution

The Home Ministry is solely responsible for carrying out decisions on house arrest, according to Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, the Home Ministry minister. However, he clarified that the ministry does not have a role in deciding pardon petitions or assessing eligibility for such petitions. Pardon petitions submitted by prisoners are instead handled by the Pardons Board, which is tasked with deliberating, evaluating, and making decisions on them.

Regardless of a person's background, whether they are an ordinary individual or a prominent figure, rich or poor, a VIP or a member of the public, everyone is entitled to submit a pardon petition according to the law. The Home Ministry's duty only begins once a decision has been made, whether it involves reducing a sentence, cancelling it, releasing the prisoner, or imposing house arrest.

During a handover ceremony for the Malaysian Volunteer Department's Madani Adopted Village and Adopted School programmes, Saifuddin made these remarks. Home Ministry secretary-general Datuk Dr Awang Alik Jeman and Rela director-general Datuk Rosli Yaakub were also present. Saifuddin emphasized that the right to submit a pardon petition is not a privilege restricted to VIPs or high-profile individuals, but is available to all prisoners who are eligible to do so under the law.

He reiterated that anyone convicted through the legal process has the right to submit a petition while serving their sentence.