Kuala lumpur: The Home Ministry (KDN) will continue engagement sessions with all stakeholders before retabling the proposed amendments to the Prisons Act, which are aimed at providing legal protection for prison officers acting in good faith, said its minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail. He clarified that some parties, including non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and Members of Parliament, have misconstrued the proposed amendments as an attempt to grant legal immunity to prison officers.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the minister emphasized that the amendments seek to ensure protection for officers acting in good faith, not to provide legal immunity. The misconception among the public, NGOs, and Members of Parliament has necessitated further clarification. The Home Ministry had previously postponed the tabling of the Prisons (Amendment) Bill 2026 to allow for further scrutiny by a Parliamentary Special Select Committee (PSSC).
The proposed amendments include the use of electronic monitoring devices for selected prisoners, establishment of prison volunteers to assist rehabilitation programmes, and legal protection for officers performing their duties as per the Act. The minister reiterated that the amendments are consistent with other Acts in the country and are not intended to grant legal immunity.
Saifuddin Nasution cited cases such as a prison director being sued after carrying out a court-ordered caning sentence, and instances where officers faced legal action despite no foul play being confirmed in inmate deaths. He stressed the need to amend the Prisons Act in this context to protect officers acting in good faith.
He further clarified that prison officers would remain subject to legal action in cases of negligence or breaches of the law, referencing the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia's (SUHAKAM) investigation into the riot at Taiping Prison. This was followed by police and internal disciplinary actions, demonstrating that there has never been an intention to obtain immunity for officers.