Table 6: Visits to Places of Detention for the Purpose of Inquiring
into Complaints in 2016
NO.
DATES
PLACES OF DETENTION
1.
21 March
Sungai Buloh Prison, Selangor
21 April
Kajang Prison, Selangor
3.
16 May
Seberang Perai Prison, P.Pinang
4.
18 May
Alor Setar Prison, Kedah
5.
30 June
Pudu Police Station, Kuala Lumpur
6.
15 July
Police Remand Centre, Kampung Batu, Kuala Lumpur
7.
22 August
Juru Immigration Detention Centre, P.Pinang
8.
23 August
Telok Mas Henry Gurney School, Melaka
9.
24 August
Tanjung Kupang Police Station, Johor
10.
10 October
Kajang Prison, Selangor
11.
13 October
Pokok Sena Prison, Kedah
12.
17 October
Jempol District Police Headquarters, Negeri Sembilan
13.
17 October
Johor Bahru Correctional Centre, Johor
14.
18 October
Kulai District Police Headquarters, Johor
15.
19 October
Kluang Prison, Johor
16.
8 November
Seberang Perai Prison, P.Pinang
17.
29 December
Sungai Buloh Prison, Selangor
CHAPTER 1
2.
Improving the condition of places of detention is not the sole responsibility of
the detaining authorities as the Commission found that other Ministries and
Departments also have their roles to play. For instance, budgetary shortages
and the absence of medical officers have resulted in detainees not being
provided with basic necessities and necessary medical treatment during their
detention. Therefore the Ministry of Finance (MOF) and the MOH are obliged to
ensure that the detaining authorities are provided enough funds and personnel,
i.e. medical officers. The following observations were made based on the
Commission’s periodic visits and, where applicable, may include some of the
observations from its visits for the purpose of inquiring into complaints. Although
these observations were made in respect of the stated visits, the Commission
believes that these issues may also exist in and are relevant to other places of
detention.
(a) Population in Prisons and Immigration Detention Centre
In 2016, the Commission visited two prisons, namely the Sungai Buloh Prison
and the Sungai Udang Prison. At the time of the visit, Sungai Buloh Prison
was keeping a total of 5,209 inmates against its gazetted capacity of 3,000
inmates, exceeding the capacity by more than 50 per cent. Meanwhile,
Sungai Udang Prison, at the time of the visit, was housing a total of 2,898
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