A bipartisan group of MPs have urged the federal government to use its emergency powers to address prison overcrowding which has contributed to the spread of Covid-19.
In a statement today, the All Party Parliamentary Group Malaysia for the Reform of All Places of Detention (APPGM) said the immediate release of eligible, non-violent prisoners was a vital step in the battle against the pandemic.
The group argued that this will help reduce prison Covid-19 clusters and adjacent community clusters, citing that "prison health is public health".
"The executive, now having full control and responsibility, must immediately initiate the collaboration between all relevant ministries, agencies, public health experts and civil society representatives to provide the Prisons Department with adequate support to successfully carry out the Release on Licence programme with evidence-based community reintegration.
"Malaysia has fallen far behind in implementing early release and community reintegration to reduce prison overcrowding during the time of the pandemic, compared to over 50 other countries.
"There simply is no longer any justifiable ground for delay," said the group.
The APPGM consists of Azalina Othman Said (Umno-Pengerang, Dewan Rakyat deputy spreaker), Rohani Abdul Katim (PBB-Batang Lupar), Vell Paari (MIC, senator), Nurul Izzah Anwar (PKR-Permatang Pauh), Mohd Azis Jamman (Warisan-Sepanggar), Liew Chin Tong (DAP, senator) and lawyers Sangeet Kaur Deo and Amin Karlos.
In October, the Prisons Department had stated that, at the time, there were 11,018 prisoners who qualified for "release on licence", which meant that a prisoner can be released temporarily.
It is unknown how many have been granted such releases.
What is known is the fact that there are many prison clusters that emerged after September.
Currently, the Jalan Harapan cluster - which originated from the Sungai Buloh prison in Selangor and has spread nationwide - is the largest cluster in the country, second only to the Teratai cluster which is linked to the Top Glove factory. - Mkini
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