The internal security ministry wants the hearin of remand cases, which make up 34.2 percent of all prisoners, to be expedited in order to reduce overcrowding in prisons.

Deputy Internal Security Minister Fu Ah Kiow told the Dewan Rakyat today that expediting such cases would be more effective than deporting foreign criminals.

Fu was responding to Raja Ahmad Zainuddin Raja Omar (BN-Larut) who suggested that foreigners who have committed crimes in Malaysia be sent back to their countries, as a way of reducing overcrowding in prisons.

Fu said: "We've discussed this with some countries, but they have refused to accept our views. Furthermore, it may also give our country a negative image if we deport the foreigners without charging them," Fu explained.

"It leaves the impression that they (foreigners) may commit crimes in our country and then leave without serving punishment."

House arrest

The deputy minister also explained that the government has no intention of introducing the house arrest concept which is implemented in many countries.

He was responding to a supplementary question from Salahuddin Ayub (PAS-Kubang Kerian) who wanted to know if the government has considered using this method.

"House arrests have been successfully implemented in many countries. Maybe we could introduce the concept here for those who are charged with minor penalties," said Salahuddin.

Fu told him that, although the government has not considered implementing the concept, it has introduced the 'community service' order.

He said those below the age of 21 can be directed by the court to do community service for a particular period.

Earlier, Fu explained that as at Oct 16, there were 40,821 people in prisons across the country and some 15,117 or 37.8 percent of them are illegal immigrants.

"The real capacity of prisons is to house only 31,280 people. Thus, our prisons are overcrowded by 9, 541 people," he said.

He said that among the steps taken by the government to tackle this problem is to transfer prisoners to less crowded prisons.

"We're also going to build 16 prisons under the Ninth Malaysia Plan. If everything goes well, we believe by 2010, we can increase the capacity of our prisons," he added.