Malaysia Proposes House Arrest Laws Amid Reform

Malaysia is proposing new laws to allow house arrest for certain offenders as a measure to reduce recidivism and alleviate prison overcrowding, which currently sees 87,000 inmates in facilities designed for 74,000. Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil emphasized that these laws are not intended to benefit former Prime Minister Najib Razak, who is serving a 12-year sentence for corruption related to the 1MDB scandal. The government seeks to adopt restorative justice principles, as evidenced by a study showing reduced re-offending rates among inmates serving time at home for minor offenses. Najib recently apologized for his role in the 1MDB scandal but continues to push for house arrest, claiming it is recommended by a royal order. The proposed legislation is part of broader criminal justice reforms, including the abolition of mandatory death sentences. Fahmi reaffirmed that the initiative is focused on systemic issues rather than individual cases.