[UPDATED] Mat Sabu proposes fair house arrest mechanism for all prisoners

MELAKA: Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu has proposed that the government introduce a legal mechanism allowing all prisoners to serve half their sentences in prison and the remaining half under house arrest.

Mohamad, popularly known as Mat Sabu, said the proposal should be based on a fair, transparent and uniformly applied legal framework.

He said non-governmental organisations (NGOs) should take up the cause to ensure all prisoners received equal treatment, regardless of their position, rank, political influence or background.

Mohamad, who is also Amanah president, said he was willing to donate his entire ministerial salary until the dissolution of the current Parliament to fund NGOs prepared to champion the proposal.

"I hope NGOs will come forward to spearhead efforts to push for a legal mechanism that allows prisoners to serve half their sentences in prison and the remaining half under house arrest.

"This should apply to all prisoners under fair, transparent and equally enforced rules.

"As a sign of my commitment to this cause, I will donate my entire salary of RM11,900 as a minister until Parliament is dissolved at the end of its current term to help fund the efforts of NGOs willing to champion this cause," he told a press conference at the Himpunan Semarak Tani Bersama Nelayan Melaka programme in Taman Panglima Pak, Merlimau, today.

The proposal came a day after the Kuala Lumpur High Court ruled that former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak could serve the remainder of his six-year prison sentence in the SRC International Sdn Bhd case under house arrest at his residence in Langgak Duta until Aug 23, 2028, with immediate effect.

Najib will remain under house arrest until Aug 23, 2028, before returning to Kajang Prison on Aug 24 that year to serve his sentence in connection with the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) case.

Mohamad also called on NGOs, including the Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (Bersih), the Malaysian Bar, the Syariah Lawyers Association and civil society organisations, to champion the principle of equal rights for all citizens as guaranteed by the Federal Constitution.

He said any house arrest mechanism should not confer special treatment on particular individuals, but must instead be implemented in accordance with the rule of law.

He also emphasised that his remarks did not stem from any personal dispute with Najib or his family members.

"I have no personal problem or dispute with Datuk Seri Najib Razak or any of his family members. However, I want to stress that justice in this country must be upheld equally, regardless of a person's position, rank, political influence or background," he said.

Mohamad also linked his position to the principle of justice in Islam, which holds that no individual should be exempted from the application of the law solely because of their position or family connections.

He said the Rukun Negara principles, particularly Loyalty to the King and Country, Supremacy of the Constitution and the Rule of Law, must remain the foundation for ensuring that justice was upheld without discrimination.

"The law must be fair to everyone, the Constitution must be upheld for everyone, and justice must not become the exclusive right of certain groups.

"This is the foundation of our struggle to safeguard the Federal Constitution, strengthen public confidence in the country's institutions and ensure Malaysia's harmony," he said.