MCO: AG, police, Prisons Dept to sort out overcrowding problem

CORONAVIRUS | The government has ordered the Attorney-General's Chambers, the police, and the Prisons Department to sort out the issue of overcrowding in jails.

Defence Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob (photo) said the government wants the matter solved immediately.

The Prisons Department yesterday appealed to the courts not to jail movement control order (MCO) offenders, as prison overcrowding has made social distancing "impossible".

A Prisons Department spokesperson revealed yesterday that there are currently 73,000 prisoners being housed in spaces intended to hold 52,000 inmates.

Chief Justice Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat has informed judges to take into consideration prison overcrowding when sentencing those who violate the MCO.

On new arrests, Ismail said 368 individuals were detained yesterday at 745 roadblocks nationwide, a downward trend which he attributed to higher public awareness on the need to abide by the MCO. 

Of those arrested yesterday, Ismail said 309 individuals were remanded while 59 others were released on bail.

At the same time, Ismail, who reminded that police will now take a sterner approach against offenders, also urged the public to spare a thought for sacrifices made by the personnel on duty.

"The police have their own procedures... so we will leave that to them," he said when quizzed on whether authorities who had allegedly used force against the public found to have breached the MCO should be investigated.

"However, I would like to remind that the police are also human. Even for us who stay at home the whole day, we will think about this and that.

"For the police on duty come rain or shine from morning to night, we must give them due consideration," he said in noting that some actions could have been the result of provocations encountered while on duty in challenging conditions.

"This is why I said we must help the police to protect us," he added.

Last week, it was reported that Sabah police is investigating a viral 27-second video clip which purportedly showed a police officer beating five individuals with a stick for having breached the MCO.

Sabah Deputy CPO Mazli Mazlan reportedly said investigations are ongoing although no formal report was lodged over the purported incident. - Mkini