KUALA LUMPUR - Prisons in the country are currently operating at a staggering 43% over its supposed capacity, the Dewan Rakyat was informed.
Deputy Home Minister II Jonathan Yasin said based on the ministry’s data, as of October 19, there were 66,791 inmates currently housed in the 39 prisons nationwide.
“This is in contrast to the prisons’ capacity, which can only accommodate 46,420 individuals, meaning there are an excess of 43.88% prisoners,” he said today.
Jonathon also noted that several prisons have recorded Covid-19 cases to date, with 1,156 inmates having tested positive for the virus, while a further 83 cases have been identified among prisons staff and their family members.
“To address this issue, the Prisons Department has implemented all the SOPs set by the Health Ministry to treat those positive cases, implement quarantines, and to prevent further outbreaks.
“The department also has a standing order that stipulates all new prisoners to be screened for the virus before they can be admitted to the prisons,” he said.
He was responding to a question from Datuk Mohd Hatta Md Ramli (PH-Lumut) on what are the measures being taken by the Homes Ministry to reform the prison system after the spread of Covid-19 in a number of its facilities.
Commenting further, Jonathan said the ministry is also currently finalising a proposal to convert former National Service Training Programme (PLKN) camps into temporary prisons for low risk convicted and remanded individuals.
Additionally, the Prisons Department has also set up transit centres in its facilities to temporarily place new inmates.
“We are also looking at the parole system in a bid to have up to two-thirds of qualified prisoners to undergo rehabilitation outside of prisons, besides implementing early releases for inmates, among other things.
“These measures are hoped to reduce congestion at the prisons and subsequently curb Covid-19 infection,” he said. - The Vibes, November 3, 2020
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