6 Penang Prison inmates positive for Covid-19

GEORGE TOWN – Six inmates at Penang Prison have tested positive for Covid-19 after a detainee was discovered infected following his death.

There are some 2,300 inmates and 320 wardens at the prison, where the 85-year-old murder suspect was found unconscious about 7am on Monday.

He was taken to Penang Hospital and pronounced dead at 7.50am. A post-mortem at 2pm revealed that he had contracted the coronavirus.

Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, in a statement, said the state Prisons Department has written to the court registrar seeking a postponement of trials and remand hearings until further notice.

“In a special briefing held with several parties, the state government was informed that the situation at Penang Prison is still under control.

“All inmates will undergo screening, with priority given to the (victim’s) close contacts. Screening has been carried out on prison personnel.”

Meanwhile, Kedah Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor called on the public not to discriminate against Covid-19 patients.

“No one wants to get Covid-19. I see that many are criticising them (patients),” he told a press conference today.

“Some have even accused Kedah of not taking good care of the people because of the Tembok cluster.

“This is a pandemic, not a common disease.”

The cluster, which emerged at Alor Star Prison, accounted for 394 of Malaysia’s 691 new cases yesterday.

It is understood that the cluster was detected when a prison officer died while receiving emergency treatment at Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital early last month.

Prisons Director-General Datuk Seri Zulkifli Omar, in a statement, said there were 1,126 Covid-19 cases in prisons nationwide as of yesterday. – The Vibes, October 7, 2020