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PUTRAJAYA – Temporary immigration detention depots nationwide have been placed on high alert following the escape of over 500 ethnic Rohingya detainees from the Sg Bakap centre in Penang, Immigration Department Director-General Datuk Seri Khairul Dzaimee Daud said today.
He said commandants of temporary depots have been instructed to increase safety measures with immediate effect and to be in contact with the nearest police stations and district police headquarters.
“The heightened alert system was activated as we do not want this incident to inspire those in other detention centres,” Khairul Dzaimee told reporters after handing out awards of excellence to immigration officers at an event.
Khairul Dzaimee also confirmed that a detainee died in the Sg Bakap depot just before the unrest leading to the breakout.
“Yes, there was a death that is believed to have been caused by natural causes and was not related to the riot or this morning’s incident,” he said.
Asked about allegations of poor conditions at the depot, Khairul Dzaimee said the centre was a former national service programme camp that is rented by the department.
He said since taking over the site, improvements in terms of security measures were implemented, with windows grilled and barbed wires placed along the perimeter.
“So, yes we gave attention to these basic safety and security aspects when converting national service camps into detention depots,” Khairul Dzaimee said.
Authorities have so far recaptured 385 of the escapees and efforts are ongoing to locate the remaining detainees, most of whom he said have fled south.
Kedah and Penang police have launched the Ops Kesan and Ops Cantas operations to track down the detainees.
Earlier, six individuals, including two children, from the group of detainees died after being knocked down by incoming traffic as they tried to cross the North-South Expressway. - The Vibes, April 20, 2022
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