# Saifuddin Nasution House Arrest Act Targets Remand Detainees

> Malaysian home minister proposes house arrest for remand detainees to ease prison overcrowding.
- Title: Saifuddin Nasution House Arrest Act Targets Remand Detainees
- Summary: Malaysian home minister proposes house arrest for remand detainees to ease prison overcrowding. Malaysia's home minister says proposed house arrest law will…
- Keywords: saifuddin nasution, house arrest act, remand detainees, prison overcrowding, malaysia, home ministry, correctional system, electronic monitoring, news, world, Saifuddin, Nasution
- Source: Malay Mail — https://malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2026/09/20/saifuddin-nasution-proposed-house-arrest-act-focuses-on-remand-detainees-and-prison-overcrowding/235851
- Published: 2026-09-20T12:21:08+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: saifuddin nasution, house arrest act, remand detainees, prison overcrowding, malaysia, home ministry, correctional system, electronic monitoring, news, world
## Home Minister Proposes House Arrest Act
Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said the proposed House Arrest Act aims to address prison overcrowding, particularly involving remand detainees who make up a significant proportion of the prison population while awaiting trial.

> The concept we have been discussing from the outset is clear, namely that for remand detainees who meet the requirements, the court may consider placing them under house arrest with electronic monitoring until their trial.
## Remand Detainees Defined
Remand detainees refer to individuals charged but denied bail or unable to post bail, held in prison pending trial.
## Prison Overcrowding Problem
Malaysia has 41 prisons but a prison population of 93,000, with a capacity of 75,000.
## Electronic Monitoring Plan
If passed, the law would allow courts to place eligible remand detainees under house arrest with electronic monitoring until their trial date.
## Serious Cases Excluded
Serious criminal cases have already been identified for exclusion from the house arrest mechanism.
## Cabinet Approval
The Cabinet has given in-principle approval for the Home Ministry to draft and table the House Arrest Act in Parliament.
## Original Purpose
The original goal of the House Arrest Act is to reduce prison overcrowding and improve the correctional system's effectiveness.
## Key takeaway

Malaysia's home minister says proposed house arrest law will let eligible remand detainees stay home with electronic monitoring to reduce prison overcrowding.