PUTRAJAYA: The government has denied that the proposed house arrest bill was meant for jailed former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
Government spokesperson Fahmi Fadzil said the bill is not about any individual but rather the government adapting from a punitive justice to restorative justice system.
"Many countries are adopting restorative justice, and we are moving in that direction too," he said in a weekly press conference, here.
Fahmi said it is also reflected in recent government efforts, such as the moratorium on mandatory death sentences and amendments allowing judges discretion, which are part of the broader shift towards restorative justice.
He said during a recent National Social Council meeting, Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail had provided a comprehensive overview of the discussions surrounding the establishment of a new act concerning home detention.
"This initiative began last year, rooted in the transition from a punitive to a restorative justice approach by the government.
"The concept of justice here focuses on reintegrating individuals who have been found guilty back into the community.
"One of the government's priorities stems from last year's discovery that the prison population exceeded the system's intended capacity. While the capacity of our prisons is approximately 74,000, last year saw a total of 87,000 inmates."
He said a pilot project last year saw 5,000 individuals undergoing community-based rehabilitation.
"Some were subjected to certain mandatory conditions, including compulsory attendance, while others were granted early release.
"Most of those included in this pilot project were individuals with relatively minor offences, not involving serious crimes such as murder or cases requiring long-term sentences with the intention to reduce recidivism, preventing these individuals from returning to prison after their release.
As such, Fahmi said, following the pilot project, research indicated that the recidivism rate dropped to around 15 per cent.
"The Home Ministry reported last year that the Prisons Department had saved approximately RM19 million as a result of these efforts.
"Given the promising findings from this proof-of-concept or pilot project, there is a consideration for its expansion, as there are still 82,000 individuals in prison compared to a capacity of 74,000," he said.
On Oct 18, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said that the government would draft a new act allowing house arrest as an alternative punishment for certain offences.
Under this proposed law, offenders will be required to remain in designated locations, such as their homes or care centres, for the duration of their sentences.
Anwar said that this measure is aimed at providing an alternative to traditional incarceration, focusing on rehabilitation while ensuring close supervision of offenders.