KLSCAH urges govt to amend Prison Act for better detention conditions

 

The Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall (KLSCAH) has urged the government to consider amending the Prison Act 1995, in view of having detention centres with health and medical facilities that are up to standard.

"The implementation of a penal system reform is an urgent matter. After all, many of the provisions in the Prison Act are policies left behind by the British colonial system.

"There are questions on whether they still fit with the reality of our correctional facilities, given the current state of these prisons," KLSCAH said in a statement today.

The NGO's call comes following the news about the hospitalisation of former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak at the Kuala Lumpur Hospital (HKL) on Monday, due to a stomach-related ailment.

The Pekan MP is currently serving a 12-year jail sentence for abuse of power, criminal breach of trust and money laundering linked to RM42 million of SRC International Sdn Bhd funds. In addition, he was also slapped with an RM210 million fine.

Former premier Najib Abdul Razak

In the statement, KLSCAH noted that Najib had to be hospitalised as current prisons and detention centres do not have health and medical facilities that are up to standard.

"Regardless of the social status of the inmates behind bars, the rights of the inmates must be guaranteed and treated humanely as per our Prison Act 1995 (Act 537). In the stance of KLSCAH, it is commendable and legal for the Prisons Department to provide equal treatment to every prisoner, including Najib, without preference for his status as an influential political figure.

"However, this does not mean that the authorities can whitewash the poor conditions of our prisons' environment, which have been exposed to the public many times," the group said, citing previous reports about the poor hygiene, living conditions, as well as lack of food supply and medical facilities.

While Najib's case has been highlighted, there are thousands of prisoners across the country who are forced to experience unbearable prison conditions, the group noted further.

"We need to explore improvements to the overall system of prisons and detention centres and actively promote the reform of the penal system." - Mkini