Over 2,100 detainees, prisoners test positive

Datuk Seri Dr Ismail Mohamed Said

A TOTAL of 2,184 prisoners and detainees tested positive for Covid-19 since May, Deputy Home Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Mohamed Said stated.

“Between Aug 29 and Dec 8, a total of 60,583 prisoners and detainees were screened for the virus.

“Of this, 829 prisoners were found to be positive for Covid-19, ” he said when replying to Dr Lee Boon Chye (PH-Gopeng) who raised concerns over the spread of the virus among prisoners and detainees and whether the SOP was adhered to.

Ismail added that between May 1 and Dec 8, a total of 1,355 detainees held at various immigration depots tested positive for the virus.

He said the Bukit Jalil Immigration depot recorded the highest number of infections with 650 cases followed by the Langkap depot (481), Semenyih depot (127) and KLIA depot (77).

“The remaining 20 cases were recorded at the Belantik, Putrajaya, Machap Umboo, Lenggeng and Juru depots.

“Prison and Immigration officers, including the police, follow the SOP issued by the Health Ministry to curb the spread of the virus, ” he said.

Ismail said besides physical distancing and the use of face masks and sanitisers, the two departments as well as the police implemented a two-step process in handling the inmates and detainees.

“It involves a 14-day process where inmates and detainees will be isolated for five days and tested and those found positive would be sent to hospital for treatment.