Jelutong MP RSN Rayer has raised concerns over a proposed house arrest bill, calling on the government to reconsider its drafting carefully.
Speaking during the debate on the Supply Bill 2025 in the Dewan Rakyat, Rayer pointed to rumours suggesting that the bill might be designed with certain high-profile inmates in mind, notably former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
"I urge the government to think twice about proposing a bill on house arrest," Rayer said. “While I won’t name anyone, Najib Razak’s name has come up frequently.”
The backbencher’s concern centers around potential bias in the bill’s application. He cautioned that if house arrest were to be restricted to certain individuals, the government must provide a transparent explanation. "We need clarity on who qualifies for house arrest or home imprisonment. We do not want to create a divide between two classes in our country," he added, alluding to concerns about unequal treatment under the law.
This proposed house arrest legislation, which Prime Minister Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim confirmed during his Budget 2025 presentation on October 18, 2024, is part of the government's plan to offer an alternative to traditional imprisonment. Under the proposal, offenders could serve sentences in designated locations, such as their homes or care centres, with a focus on rehabilitation and close supervision.
Anwar explained that the bill would be aimed at providing an alternative punishment, particularly for non-violent offenders, while still ensuring public safety. The measure is seen as a step toward prison reform and reducing overcrowding, but Rayer’s remarks reflect growing apprehension over its potential misuse.
Beyond the house arrest bill, Rayer also criticised the continued use of the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma), citing recent detentions of members of Global Ikhwan Services and Business Holdings (GISB). "I believe it’s wrong to apply Sosma in this case," Rayer argued. "I have opposed it from the beginning, especially when DAP MPs or assemblymen were detained under it. This is a draconian law."
Rayer called on the government to charge those detained under Sosma in court with concrete evidence, rather than resorting to what he referred to as "a tyrannical law."
As the government weighs the house arrest bill and addresses concerns surrounding Sosma, the calls for greater transparency and equality in the application of such laws grow louder, reflecting concerns about the preservation of justice and fairness in Malaysia.
By: Kpost
Information Source: Nst
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