The Malaysian human rights commission, Suhakam, conducted a public inquiry into human rights violations during and after an incident on 17 January 2025 at Taiping Prison, Perak.
The public inquiry was convened following a complaint received by Suhakam on 3 February 2025 from family members of High Court detainees.
The complaint alleged that a group of High Court detainees had been subjected to human rights violations at the prison.
Among the allegations of human rights violations brought to Suhakam’s attention were:
- A riot incident involving the use of force by Taiping Prison staff against about 80 to 100 High Court detainees, resulting in injuries
- The incident also resulted in the death of a High Court detainee named Gan Chin Eng
Following this, Suhakam initiated a public inquiry into the incident at the prison.
The public inquiry proceedings commenced on 9 June 2025 and lasted for three months and two weeks, with the final proceedings (oral submissions) held on 15 December 2025. A total of 50 witnesses testified, and 127 exhibits were tendered during the proceedings.
As a result of the inquiry, the inquiry panel confirmed that human rights violations against the High Court detainees had occurred during and after the incident on 17 January 2025 at Taiping Prison as follows:
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- Excessive physical violence was inflicted by a large number of prison staff against the High Court detainees during the transfer operation from Hall B to Block E on 17 January 2025
- Prison staff abused the use of weapons and security equipment such as batons and pepper spray
- Negligence and incompetence among senior officers of Taiping Prison
- Serious overcrowding issues at Taiping Prison
- Prolonged remand detention periods
- Financial allocation constraints from the government
- Negligence and failure in providing medical treatment to injured High Court detainees
- Elements of falsification in medical record documentation
- High Court detainees were subjected to inhumane and degrading treatment following the incident on 17 January 2025
- Police reports lodged against the High Court detainees contained false information
- The police failed to conduct a separate investigation into the acts of violence committed by prison staff against the High Court detainees
- Significant delays by the Attorney General’s Chambers in reviewing the police investigation papers and initiating charges in court
In this regard, the public inquiry panel has proposed the following recommendations:
- Take disciplinary action to be taken against the management and staff of Taiping Prison
- The police to conduct a separate investigation into the acts of violence committed by prison staff against the High Court detainees
- Undertake a comprehensive study on alternatives to remand and imprisonment in addressing prison overcrowding issues
- Abolish the practice of the bucket system at Taiping Prison and all prison institutions
- Conduct regular and comprehensive training for all Taiping Prison staff
- Ensure that detainees’ basic needs are consistently met
- Improve medical and healthcare facilities in prison institutions
- Review the continued operation of Taiping Prison at its current site, taking into account its gazetted status as a heritage building
- Acede to the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (UNCAT)
The full report of the public inquiry can be accessed here. – Suhakam
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