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MALAYSIA’S prison population has exceeded national capacity by a significant margin, with more than 84,000 people currently incarcerated, the Dewan Rakyat was told on Monday.
Deputy Home Minister Datuk Seri Shamsul Anuar Nasarah said a total of 84,143 inmates are now housed across the country’s prison facilities, surpassing the official maximum capacity of 76,311.
A further 6,640 individuals are undergoing community-based rehabilitation outside prison walls.
“This shows that overcrowding has occurred, with an excess of 7,872 people over the total capacity,” he said during Question Time.
He was responding to Padang Besar MP Rushdan Rusmi, who asked what measures the ministry is taking to address overcrowding caused by drug offences, and whether the government is prepared to review existing policies, including proposals for controlled decriminalisation and diverting minor offenders into community rehabilitation to break the cycle of imprisonment.
Shamsul said the government is pursuing a comprehensive and strategic approach combining enforcement and rehabilitation to tackle congestion, much of which stems from drug-related convictions.
He highlighted the establishment of the Chenderiang Correctional Centre in Tapah as a key reform, enabling the segregation of drug offenders convicted under Section 15(1) and Section 39C of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.
“This separation allows for more focused and centralised treatment and rehabilitation programmes. From there, we prepare inmates to enter community-based rehabilitation initiatives,” he said.
According to Shamsul, this approach not only helps ease overcrowding in mainstream prisons but also holds potential to reduce recidivism rates.
Rehabilitation efforts are also being broadened through community programmes such as the parole system and licensed release schemes.
“These programmes provide eligible inmates with an opportunity to undergo rehabilitation outside prison walls, in a controlled and supervised environment.
“This is in line with the prison service’s direction that two-thirds of eligible inmates should participate in community-based rehabilitation programmes, which directly eases pressure on prison capacity while supporting reintegration into society,” he said. - November 17, 2025