Malaysia Prisons Department finalizing house arrest regulations

The Malaysian Prisons Department is in the final stages of drafting regulations and conditions for house arrest, a mechanism that has not been previously implemented in the country. Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail stated that the department is developing these rules following instructions from the Pardons Board secretariat, which granted the department authority to set appropriate conditions for such detention.

The development follows a conditional pardon granted by Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim to former Prime Minister Najib Razak. The pardon allows Najib to serve the remainder of his prison sentence for the SRC International case under house arrest until August 23, 2028, provided he pays a RM50 million fine.

Currently, Najib remains in Kajang Prison as he has not yet settled the RM50 million fine required to trigger the house arrest arrangement.