Zahid: No provision to allow Anwar to serve remaining jail term under home detention

KUALA LUMPUR: There is no provision under Malaysian laws to enable Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to serve the remainder of his jail term under home detention, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
Ahmad Zahid said the management of prisoners in the country is subjected to the Prison Act 1995 and the Prison Rules and Regulations 2000.
"On the suggestion for Anwar's detention place to be moved from Sungai Buloh Prison to his house in Bukit Segambut, it cannot be done as our country does not have laws that permit home detention," he said in a written reply at the Dewan Rakyat.
Ahmad Zahid was responding to a query from Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail (PKR — Permatang Pauh), who made the suggestion.
He said Section 37 (1) of the act stated that medical treatment for a prisoner is limited to government hospitals, and not private or overseas hospitals.
"Government hospitals are present with medical experts as well as equipment which is on par with those offered internationally," he said.