Lawyers for Liberty (LFL) is shocked and disappointed by the response issued by the Malaysian Prison Department on 15 October concerning the allegations of water supply disruptions and deficiencies in sanitation and food provision at Kajang Prison.
The department’s statement is wholly inadequate. It raises more questions than it answers and does little to reassure the public that the welfare and basic human needs of inmates are being properly protected.
Why is the department responding as though these concerns are new, when complaints about the conditions at Kajang Prison have persisted for years? Concerns about the prison’s ageing facilities, water quality and supply, sanitation and food hygiene are not new. These issues have been raised repeatedly, yet the public is now once again being told that the department is “examining” the allegations and that “immediate improvements” will be prioritised.
If the department has consistently prioritised the welfare, health and hygiene of inmates, as it claims, how have these problems been allowed to persist for so long without a satisfactory and lasting solution? How many complaints have been received, what action has been taken, and why do these concerns continue to arise?
The public does not need another promise of improvement. The public needs answers, accountability and concrete action.
The department’s vague reference to “immediate improvements” is particularly troubling. What is the timeline for completing the necessary improvements? Who will be responsible for ensuring that these measures are carried out, and how will the public be informed of the outcome?
Without clear answers, this latest assurance risks becoming yet another empty promise, repeating a familiar cycle in which serious concerns are acknowledged, general assurances are issued, and the public is left wondering whether anything has fundamentally changed.
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LF therefore demands an independent public inquiry under the Commissions of Enquiry Act 1950 into the conditions at Kajang Prison. The inquiry must:
- Examine the history of complaints concerning water supply and quality, sanitation, food hygiene and the adequacy of basic facilities
- Determine why these problems have persisted
- Establish whether the relevant authorities have failed in their duties
- Recommend and immediately implement enforceable measures to prevent their recurrence
The inquiry must be independent, transparent and capable of holding the relevant authorities accountable. Its findings and recommendations must be made public.
LFL is equally disturbed by the department’s suggestion that members of the public should refrain from speculation or disseminating unverified information. While factual accuracy is important, it is high-handed of the department to deter the public from raising questions about matters of legitimate public concern.
LFL is not speculating. It is demanding answers.
Prison conditions are not a private matter beyond public scrutiny. Prisons operate under the authority of the state, and the treatment of people deprived of their liberty is a matter of public interest.
The public, civil society organisations and lawyers have every right to question the authorities, demand explanations and call for independent scrutiny when credible concerns about inmates’ welfare arise.
The government and the Prison Department must stop treating recurring concerns about prison conditions as isolated incidents requiring temporary fixes.
No person should be left without adequate access to clean water, sanitation or hygienic food simply because they are behind prison walls.
It is particularly disappointing that this situation is continuing under the leadership of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who himself was in prison for many years and has first-hand experience of the unacceptable condition of prisons in Malaysia.
Anwar should prove his reform credentials by intervening to fix the problem once and for all.
The time for vague assurances is over. – LFL
Thiruna Jayshan is from the outreach and communications section of Lawyers for Liberty.
The views expressed in Aliran's media statements and the NGO statements we have endorsed reflect Aliran's official stand. Views and opinions expressed in other pieces published here do not necessarily reflect Aliran's official position.
- Tegakkan maruah serta kualiti kehidupan rakyat
- Galakkan pembangunan saksama, lestari serta tangani krisis alam sekitar
- Raikan kerencaman dan keterangkuman
- Selamatkan demokrasi dan angkatkan keluhuran undang-undang
- Lawan rasuah dan kronisme
