LUMUT: The Home Ministry is responsible for implementing decisions on house arrest but does not decide on pardon petitions or determine eligibility.
Its minister, Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, said pardon petitions submitted by prisoners fell under the jurisdiction of the Pardons Board, which was responsible for discussing, considering and deciding on them.
“Regardless of who they are, whether ordinary people or prominent figures, rich or poor, VIPs or members of the public, everyone has the right to submit a pardon petition under the law.
“Whether a petition is submitted, discussed, considered or decided upon does not fall within the Home Ministry’s area of responsibility.
“If a decision is made, our duty is to implement it, whether the sentence is reduced, cancelled, the prisoner is released or placed under house arrest,” he told reporters.
He was speaking after officiating the handover ceremony for the Madani Adopted Village and Adopted School programmes by the Malaysian Volunteer Department (Rela) in Kampung Sungai Tiram, Lekir, Sitiawan.
Also present were Home Ministry secretary-general Datuk Dr Awang Alik Jeman and Rela director-general Datuk Rosli Yaakub.
Saifuddin said the right to submit a pardon petition was not a privilege reserved for VIPs or high-profile individuals, but was available to all prisoners entitled to do so under the law.
He said anyone convicted after going through the legal process had the right to submit a petition while serving their sentence.