RM5 bil spent to upkeep prisons over last 5 years: Hamzah

KUALA LUMPUR – A total of RM4.95 billion was spent over a period of five years from 2016 to last year to operate and maintain Malaysian prisons.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin said that the average expenditure for a single inmate was around RM50 a day, and that the country had 317,674 inmates over the five-year period.

“Each inmate incurred expenses for their equipment, medical, food, control, escort, staff emoluments, and other facilities,” he said in his parliamentary reply to Teh Kok Lim (Taiping-DAP).

In an effort to reduce the operational cost for Malaysian prisons, Hamzah said, the Prisons Department has intensified the parole system, mandatory present order, and reintegration programme, which currently involves 56,146 inmates. 

“They are currently undertaking rehabilitation outside of the prisons, or what is called community rehabilitation, and presently, there are 3,515 in the programme,” he said. 

On citizenship applications, he said that 11,158 citizenship certificates have been approved between June 1, 2018 and August 31, this year. 

A total of 26,229 citizenship applications were made over the same period, Hamzah said in his parliamentary reply to Mordi Bimol (Mas Gading-DAP). 

Hamzah also added that 13 people have died in police lock-up from January 1 until December 31, last year.

A total of 11 deaths have been recorded in immigration depots, while 8,777 contracted the coronavirus between May 2020 and August 25 this year, said Hamzah. 

Meanwhile, out of the 11,180 migrants at Malaysian prisons, 303 contracted Covid-19, he said. 

“Six foreign inmates have died of the virus. Two were from India and one each from Indonesia, Vietnam, China, and Thailand,” he added.

In dealing with the pandemic, Hamzah said 14 assistant medical officers have been stationed at immigration depots nationwide to provide early medical treatment for detainees. 

He added that nearby clinics have been identified by the Health Ministry to support health services at depots.

Hamzah was responding to a question from Noor Amin Ahmad (Kangar-PKR) on the number of migrants in detention centres and inmates who had died from Covid-19. 

In responding to another question from Chan Ming Kai (Alor Star-DAP), Hamzah said 369 people have been detained under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012, while 2,832 persons were arrested under the Prevention of Crime Act 1959. 

On migrant enforcement, Hamzah said that 5,110 operations were held between March 18 and August 2, with 14,847 illegal immigrants from various countries nabbed and 246 employers found to have violated various immigration laws.

“The repatriation process, which includes deportation, costs comes under the Immigration Department.

“Up until July 2021, the cost for transport stood at RM248,237.10, while the cost of food stood at RM35,822,588.75,” he said. – The Vibes, September 18, 2021