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Home Ministry considers record clearance for non-convicted individuals

KAJANG: The Home Ministry is considering amendments to the Registration of Criminals and Undesirable Persons Act 1969 (Act 7) to clear the records of individuals who have participated in police investigations but were not convicted.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said that around one million people were currently listed under Act 7, which includes those who have assisted in investigations, remain unconvicted, or have been discharged by the courts. These individuals are classified as "Not Wanted" persons.

He said that he had instructed the ministry's secretary-general and deputy secretary-general to explore the necessary changes to Act 7 and prepare a policy paper in the near future.

The aim was to assist those with clean records but caught in the system due to past investigations, to get employment opportunities, he added.

Saifuddin shared a personal anecdote to emphasise the issue: "A few months ago, I was approached by an elderly couple from Tanah Merah, Kelantan. They explained that their son had received a job offer at a factory, but when his police record was checked, it flagged him as a 'Not Wanted' person.

"Despite no charges ever being filed, he was unable to secure the job due to his involvement in an earlier police investigation. I was deeply moved by this," he said during a town hall session at the Prisons Department Headquarters today.

He said that while there were limits to ministerial discretion in clearing records, certain sections of Act 7 might need legislative amendments.

"We're working both administratively and legislatively to address this. Our goal is to focus on those with no convictions or sentences and remove their names from the records, particularly those who were merely witnesses or helped with investigations," he added.

Saifuddin also highlighted a proposal by MRCB executive vice-president Datuk Dell Akbar Khan, suggesting that convicts could be incentivised to clear their records by continuing to work for a specified period after their sentencing.

He said convicts would need to appear before a panel for a review of their record, with input from both the Prisons Department and their employers.

This could help reduce reliance on foreign labour while encouraging employers to invest in training convicts, he added.

Saifuddin praised the proposal as "progressive" and aligned with the government's objectives, saying, "For those already working, like in MRCB, if they have demonstrated good behaviour, we may consider removing their name from the record under Act 7. This is a step in the right direction."

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