Earlier today, we shared how the Federal Government is planning to reduce inmate overcrowding in prisons by implementing a new “Licensed Release of Prisoners (PBSL)”, which is essentially home detention for eligible prisoners.
These include inmates with sentences of 4 years or less to serve, those with chronic diseases, the elderly, persons with disabilities (PwD) and pregnant women.
Allow for loopholes benefitting powerful criminals?
However, while many were receptive to this announcement, some Malaysians have reservations about such a plan as it may allow for loopholes benefitting powerful criminals to be released from prison early and enjoy home detention.
The latter is even more dubious when you consider that jailed former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak may be eligible for home detention when it is implemented as he has less than 4 years of prison sentence to go after getting his imprisonment for the infamous SRC International case halved by the Pardons Board.
Among those questioning the home detention plan include Project Stability and Accountability for Malaysia (Projek SAMA), a local non-governmental organisation (NGO) advocating for institutional reforms for the sake of political stability and accountability in Malaysia.
Will Najib Razak be eligible for home detention?
In a press release, Projek SAMA said that while they welcome Home Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution’s announcement of the home detention initiative, the NGO urged for a white paper to be initiated before its implementation to prevent the “dua darjat” (2 classes before the law) phenomenon.
Projek SAMA then asked the Federal Government how would prisoners be selected for home detention, warning how in many countries, home and hospital detentions have been abused to free rich and powerful convicts from imprisonment while inmates from ordinary backgrounds are often denied or deprioritised for such opportunities.
For illustration purposes
The local NGO added,
“A rigorous white paper will build public confidence that home detention will not similarly become a privilege or ‘priority lane’ for powerful criminals, or worse, be abused as a bargaining chip in political deals.”
“This white paper must be tabled and debated in Parliament before any changes are made to laws, by-laws or administrative orders.”
Najib Razak’s covert “get-out-of-jail” card?
Former Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak
Projek SAMA then addressed the elephant in the room and warned the Federal Government that should home detention be used Najib Razak as a covert “get-out-of-jail” card, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and his MADANI Government’s trust deficit with Malaysians and the international community will deepen.
The statement added,
“The Malaysian ringgit will face greater downward pressure if the Madani Government is perceived to be under not just ‘elite capture’, but ‘prisoners’ capture’… Projek SAMA reminds Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim that his government no longer enjoys credibility in reforms or in the fight against corruption which it enjoyed when it came into power 15 months ago.”
Projek SAMA then ended the press release by stressing that a white paper on home detention will assure the public of the prudence, integrity and abuse-proof design of the policy, as well as restore local and international confidence in Malaysia.
Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim
So, what do you guys think of the home detention initiative and the statement by Projek SAMA? Share your thoughts with us in the comments!
Also read: Malaysian Government Will be Reducing Inmate Overcrowding in Prisons by Implementing Home Detention
