Red Cross calls for Malaysia to consider releasing vulnerable detainees

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Kuala Lumpur has called on the authorities to consider the release of vulnerable detainees to take some pressure off detention health care systems in prisons.

It backed the swift response to concerns that the use of custodial sentences as punishment for movement control order (MCO) violations could expose prison populations to Covid-19.

"We understand that this action is in response to last week’s appeal by Prisons Department Director-General Zulkifli Omar to stop jailing these individuals, as their admission into the country’s prisons could trigger a Covid-19 outbreak inside," the ICRC said in a statement today.

This is after Bukit Aman Internal Security and Public Order Department director Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani announced that people violating the MCO will be issued with a compound of RM1,000 and that offenders would be given two weeks to settle the compound, failing which, they can be brought to court.

"This is a commendable solution and one aligned with the ICRC’s global position on the issue of overcrowding in places of detention and the added risk to an infection such conditions already impose on detainees.

It added that sending more people to prison would be counterproductive to the very intent of the MCO and stop the spread of Covid-19 and suggested the consideration of releasing vulnerable inmates to reduce the risk of transmission.

"One example is in neighbouring Indonesia, where detaining authorities released some 22,000 inmates from its penitentiary systems last week to reduce the risk of transmission in its facilities," it said.

"We are pleased that the Malaysian authorities have been proactive in their Covid-19 response thus far, instituting measures such as temperature screenings for new arrivals, health checks for prison staff, sanitisation works and the establishment of isolation blocks and quarantine centres, in addition to the suspension of external visits."

It added that it had donated protective and hygiene items such as masks, soaps and hand sanitisers for staff and detainees in all prisons and Immigration Detention Centres and Temporary Detention Centres in the country.

"In addition, thermometers have also been donated to support a thorough screening of new detainees and staff, which should lead to the isolation of symptomatic persons.

"We know from experience that continuous access to soap, clean water and other hygiene materials can prevent the spread of disease inside these facilities," said the ICRC.

It said that while the healthcare and safety of the detainees is a primary concern, it is very important that detainees and their family members remain in contact with each other through various means of communication, during the suspension of family visitations.

"We stand ready to offer further support and our expertise on infection protection and control while preserving the fundamental rights and dignity of detainees to the Prisons and Immigration Departments of Malaysia, the Ministry of Health and other relevant stakeholders," added the ICRC. - Mkini