PETALING JAYA: A new law will be drafted by the government to allow prisoners to serve their jail sentences under house arrest, says Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
According to the Prime Minister, this can serve as an alternative punishment for certain offences, which he did not specify.
“The convict will be required to be detained at a suitable location such as a residential home, a nursery or workers dormitory throughout the detention period, subject to monitoring and terms set by the Prison Officer,” said Anwar when tabling Budget 2025 in Parliament on Friday (Oct 18).
Presently, there are no legal provisions governing the issue.
Former premier Datuk Seri Najib Razak had claimed that he was allowed to serve the remainder of his jail sentence under house arrest, citing a purported royal addendum issued by the former Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
In July, an application for leave to commence judicial review filed by Najib to enforce the purported royal addendum order was rejected by the Kuala Lumpur High Court.
Najib has since appealed against the courts’ decision
