PASIR MAS: About 28,000 offenders are likely to be considered to be placed under house arrest under a proposed bill, which is expected to reduce overcrowding in prisons.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said the bill, expected to be enforced next year, was not applicable to those under remand.
"This house arrest orders will apply only to first offenders who did not commit major crimes," he said at the closing of Madani Prison Commissioner General's One Leader One Village programme at SMK Tanjong Bunga here today.
Saifuddin said the number of prisoners in the country was 87,000.
"The capacity of prisons in the country is only for 74,000 prisoners. We placed 5,000 prisoners in the community and there is still an excess of 8,000 prisoners.
"Of the 87,000, 28,000 prisoners are being remanded in prisons awaiting trials.
"The 28,000 prisoners undergoing remand detention are our focus for the house arrest orders."
He hoped the house arrest plan would help the government address overcrowding in prisons.
"Some people have misunderstood the new law. They think the house arrest focuses on only 'one person'.
"Actually, we target thousands of prisoners."
Saifuddin said prisoners undergoing house arrest would be fitted with special equipment for monitoring purposes.
"We will also hold engagement sessions with various parties before presenting the proposal in Parliament."
Saifuddin had said the house arrest bill would be tabled in Parliament next year and that the cabinet had approved the proposed law in principle.
Saifuddin said the government had implemented three initiatives — parole, compulsory attendance orders and licensed releases — and noted a low recidivism rate.