Kimanis detainees already frail before they went in: home minister

PUTRAJAYA – Newly appointed Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution said that frail-looking and sickly detainees at the Kimanis detention centre were already in that condition before they went in.

He told a press conference today that he had been informed by ministry officials over the matter, which had been captured in a video and photos and shared widely on social media.

“I was notified by the (Immigration) department (over the issue). Sometimes it is unfair if we overplay this issue.

“Firstly, we need to look at the subject (person) – whether that person was a normal person practising a healthy lifestyle.

“Or, whether he had been involved in activities that could cause his physical body to be skinny.

“They were already frail-looking when they were detained. They were already like that before going in (to the detention centre).

“So, their weak and frail-looking physical conditions were not caused when they went in there, no,” he told the press conference at the Immigration Department headquarters which was also streamed live on Facebook.

Saifuddin said he hoped the media would rectify the matter “and give us a fair report”.

He was asked about a video clip and several photographs of frail-looking individuals said to be incarcerated at the Kimanis detention centre near Kota Kinabalu, which implied that they had received poor treatment.

The Vibes had approached the Sabah Immigration Department and the Human Rights Commission hours after the photos and video went viral over social media but received no response as of press time. – The Vibes, December 9, 2022