KLANG: About 20,000 offenders of certain categories may be qualified to undergo house arrests pending a full screening process conducted by the government.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said they involve first-time offenders who are not involved in serious crimes with serious penalties.
"I said earlier that the number is around 20,000, and these are first-time offenders who have committed less serious offences. For example, single mothers who are poor who steal milk to feed their children. Individuals who are ill and the elderly.
"These 20,000 are eligible for consideration (for home detention). However, even if they are first-time offenders, if their discipline in prison is bad, they will not be selected as there will be a screening process for those eligible for home detention," Saifuddin told reporters after opening the Kota Raja PKR annual meeting here today.
The government said on Friday that it will draft a new act to allow house arrest as an alternative punishment for certain offences. The bill will be tabled in the Dewan Rakyat next year
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had said on Friday that under the proposed law, offenders would be required to remain in designated locations such as their homes, care centres or workers' dormitories for the duration of their sentence.
Meanwhile, Saifuddin said the proposal for the act related to house arrests was made due to serious overcrowding issues in 43 prisons nationwide, which resulted in non-conducive conditions.
He said there are currently 82,000 detainees in prisons nationwide, exceeding the established capacity of 74,000.
"We need to take action to address this issue as offenders are categorised into two groups: those who have been convicted and those under remand.
"This practice of home detention is also implemented in many developed countries today, including the United States, United Kingdom, Germany and Australia.
"At this time, the government is allowing for the drafting of this new act, and we will present it next year, which will also be debated by all members of parliament," he said.