“Academics are entitled to their opinions, but they don’t know the government’s intention.

“It is to give a second chance to people like the poor single mother who was incarcerated after stealing milk from a supermarket out of desperation. This is what I’m focussing on,” he told reporters after an event here.

Saifuddin was asked to comment on a call by an academic that the house arrest bill set to be tabled in Parliament next year should exclude anyone convicted in cases that are of public interest.

Muzaffar Syah Mallow, an associate professor at Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia’s shariah and law faculty, said only those who are convicted for lighter offences should be given consideration for house arrest.

In tabling the 2025 budget last Friday, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced that the government planned to introduce a new law that will allow house arrest as an alternative punishment for certain offences.

There are no legal provisions for prisoners to serve their jail sentences under house arrest. However, Section 43 of the Prisons Act 1995 allows for a prisoner to be released on licence, subject to any regulation made by the home minister.

The announcement on the bill has however raised eyebrows, with many speculating that this law would pave the way for former prime minister Najib Razak, who is currently serving a six-year sentence in the SRC International case, to be allowed to serve the remainder of his sentence under house arrest.

On Sunday, Saifuddin said about 20,000 offenders are likely to be considered to be placed under house arrest under a proposed bill which will give attention to first offenders who did not commit major crimes, pregnant women, senior citizens and inmates with disabilities.

Earlier today, government spokesman Fahmi Fadzil denied any link between Najib and the recent announcement of plans to introduce a new law on house arrest.