House arrest rules still being finalised, says Saifuddin

KUALA LUMPUR: Rules on the use of closed-circuit television (CCTV), electronic ankle tags and permitted visitors for house arrest are still being finalised, Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said.

He said there were currently no house arrest orders issued under a specific law as the proposed legislation was still being finalised and undergoing legal review by the Attorney-General's Chambers (A-GC).

"The government has, in principle, agreed to establish a legal framework to allow remand detainees who meet certain conditions to be considered for house arrest.

"This would be an alternative to placement in prison while they await trial," he said in a parliamentary written reply.

He said the relevant aspects would be subject to provisions under the law, regulations and standard operating procedures that were still being finalised.

Saifuddin was responding to Lim Lip Eng (PH-Kepong), who asked about the number of house arrest orders issued.

Lim also asked whether people under house arrest would be required to undergo CCTV monitoring, wear electronic monitoring devices and what categories of visitors would be allowed.

On Sept 18, His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, granted former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak a conditional house arrest.

This allowed him to serve the remainder of his sentence under house arrest until Aug 23, 2028, subject to him paying the RM50 million fine imposed over his conviction in the SRC International case.

Meanwhile, Saifuddin clarified that a conditional pardon granted by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong was different from a house arrest order proposed under the House Arrest Bill.

"Conditional pardon is a prerogative of pardon under the Federal Constitution, and its implementation is subject to the decisions and conditions set by the relevant pardoning authority," he said.

Therefore, he said, a person placed under home confinement following a conditional pardon could not be directly equated with a house arrest order issued by a court under a specific Act.

For conditional pardons, Saifuddin said any conditions relating to control, movement monitoring, visits or other matters would be subject to the decisions and conditions set by the relevant authority.

He said the applicable implementation procedures would also apply.

"For example, where a prisoner is required to remain at a residence under a conditional pardon, matters such as visits, control and movement monitoring would need to be detailed through the relevant standard operating procedures," he said.