LAST week, the government agreed to implement prisoner release under licence (PBSL) through house arrest for prisoners serving sentences of four years or less.According to sources, several prisons across the country are experiencing overcrowding due to an influx of detainees linked to drug offences.By September last year, the total number of detainees nationwide had reached 75,379, surpassing the official capacity of 69,816.
Of these, 70.4% were convicted for drug-related offences, compared to 53,072 individuals. The highest congestion was reported in Kelantan’s Pengkalan Chepa and Machang facilities. To alleviate overcrowding, Malaysian AIDS Foundation chairman Prof Datuk Dr Adeeba Kamarulzaman also urged a review of drug-related laws.She emphasised the need for a shift towards treatment rather than incarceration, citing the ineffectiveness of imprisonment in curbing drug abuse.
An X user is however, angry that Malaysians have requested to work from home but their request was turned down. Oddly, criminals are receiving this perk.
Rakyat mintak bekerja dari rumah, untuk elak kesesakan jalanraya, tapi kerajaan bagi tahanan di rumah, untuk elak kesesakan penjara. Punyalah sial rakyat Malaysia ni dapat kerajaan macam ni. https://t.co/hA7AmYmAjU
— ianzainal (@lANZAlNAL) March 3, 2024
Another user is asking what happens if the prisoners do not have a home. The answer would be to put them in hostels, perhaps.
Kalau banduan takde rumah?
Baik buat Nistelrooy dan berikan mereka kerja berkaitan ….
Selain menjalani parol, mereka ada kerja ada tempat tinggal. Dan boleh sumbang pada ekonomi,Hostel dan makan mereka bayar
— AliffShanusi 🆇 (@aliffshanusi) March 3, 2024
Others are saying the prisoners should instead be given community work for a given period, like it is done in foreign countries, and perhaps that could alleviate the burden of overcrowded prisons.
Buat mcm cth di beberapa negara. Kena buat kerja Amal atau sukarela utk beberapa jam selama tempoh yg di tetapkan oleh mahkamah. Selain itu kena buat kerja pembersihan di setengah tempat yg di tetapkan oleh mahkamah. Ini salah 1 cara mendidik utk menjadikan sebahagian sayang pada…
— ₳łⱤ₮Ɇ₥₱Ø ™ ₣Ⱡł₱ 🎭 (@Loverboxs) March 3, 2024
Taking the news lightly, a user is saying this is good news for the former Prime Minister’s who would not have to be jailed since they can spend their sentencing in house arrest. – March 3, 2024
Good news to our former prime ministers, former ministers and their cronies as they can still enjoy the comforts and luxury of their home after being prosecuted for abuse of power, money laundering, bribery, etc.
— BahasBola (@MYBahasBola) March 3, 2024
