Minister in Prime Minister’s Department (Law) Takiyuddin Hassan said the move came after the Attorney-General’s Chambers held a meeting with enforcement agencies to reduce the number of prisoners.

“Offenders will be issued compound fines and the length of time held under remand will be included as part of the sentence,” he said.

He added that those who could afford to pay the fines will not be imprisoned.

“The prosecutors can also inform the court if there are alternatives other than imprisonment.”

Other alternatives, Takiyuddin added, could be under the Criminal Procedure Code which allows freeing offenders with a warning, good behaviour bond and peace bond.

He was responding to Teresa Kok (PH-Seputeh), who had enquired about the hundreds of people being issued RM1,000 fines daily, especially for offences related to the Covid-19 pandemic and for breaching the SOPs under the movement control order.

She said these fines were being issued even for minor offences.

The House was also told that as of Oct 19, there were 66,791 prisoners nationwide although the jails were built to accommodate 46,420 prisoners, exceeding their capacity by 43.8%.

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