SPENT MECHANISM TO GIVE FORMER CONVICTS A SECOND CHANCE

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 10 (Bernama) -- The government will adopt international best practices through the introduction of the SPENT mechanism under amendments to the Registration of Criminals and Undesirable Persons Act 1969 (Act 7) to provide former convicts with a second chance, the Dewan Rakyat was told today.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said the mechanism would allow exemptions for certain criminal records after the individual concerned has undergone a crime-free period.

He said such exemptions would, however, be subject to prescribed conditions and the nature of the offence committed.

“This second-chance mechanism is designed by taking into account several international best practices as benchmarks, including those in the United Kingdom, Singapore, Brunei and Australia.

“In essence, an individual has been convicted, has exhausted the appeal process and completed all legal proceedings. The name is then entered into the register. After completing the sentence or paying the fine and not reoffending within a reasonable period, the individual may be regarded as having no criminal record,” he said when replying to a question from Roslan Hashim (PN-Kulim Bandar Baharu).

According to him, through the SPENT mechanism or record deactivation, individuals who have completed their sentences and do not reoffend will be considered as having no active criminal record, except in cases involving serious offences.

He said the proposed amendments to the Act were approved by the Cabinet on May 21 last year.

“This proposal is currently under review by the Attorney General’s Chambers and I intend to table it during this year’s Parliamentary sitting,” he said.

 Replying to a supplementary question from Roslan on societal stigma against former convicts, Saifuddin Nasution said the issue required a collective commitment, including the involvement of employers and the community.

He said the government continues to provide support through rehabilitation programmes, skills training and job placement initiatives implemented by the Malaysian Prison Department.

To date, a total of 2.6 million individuals have been recorded under Act 7 since 1969, with nearly half involving convictions related to drug offences, including those under Section 12 and Section 15 of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.

According to him, the government, through the Malaysian Prison Department, has already introduced second-chance initiatives via community-based rehabilitation programmes.

He added that inmates involved in minor offences are now given the opportunity to serve one-third of their sentence in prison, with the remaining two-thirds served outside.

“We provide accommodation, employment opportunities and TVET trainings. At present, we have six external centres, including one in Pantai Merdeka that accommodates 250 individuals.

“As a result, for every 800 individuals released, only one returns to prison. This is a success story, even though the Act has yet to be amended,” he said.

-- BERNAMA