Half in jail, half at home? Mat Sabu says to make it a rule for all, not a privilege for some

Amanah president and Kota Raja MP Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu says Malaysia cannot practise a two-tier system of justice and called for a law allowing prisoners to serve half their sentence under house arrest, provided the rules apply to everyone. — Picture by Firdaus Latif

By Malay Mail

First Published: Wednesday, 11 Nov 2026 11:46 AM MYT

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 11 — Amanah president Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu today called for a law that would let prisoners serve half their sentence in jail and the other half under house arrest, provided the rules are fair, transparent and apply to everyone.

The Kota Raja MP who is also agriculture and food security minister made the call a day after former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak was transferred from Kajang Prison to Jalan Langgak Duta to serve the remainder of his six-year SRC International sentence under house arrest.

“The law must be fair to all. Justice cannot be the exclusive right of certain groups. Malaysia cannot practise a two-tier system of justice,” Mohamad, popularly known as Mat Sabu, said in a statement on Facebook. 

He said equality before the law could not be compromised on account of position, political influence or family ties.

He said his stand was not driven by any personal dispute with Najib or his family, but by the supremacy of the Constitution and the rule of law.

He urged non-governmental organisations, legal practitioners and civil society to push for the mechanism so that all citizens have equal rights.

As a show of commitment, he said he was prepared to hand over his entire ministerial salary, until Parliament is dissolved this term, to help fund the NGOs leading the effort.