208 deaths reported at immigration detention depots since 2018, says Deputy Home Minister

PETALING JAYA: A total of 208 deaths were recorded at immigration detention depots from 2018 till Feb 15 this year, says Deputy Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ismail Mohamed.

Ismail said among the reasons for their deaths were due to septic shock, tuberculosis, severe pneumonia, lung infection, heart complication, dengue, diabetes, breathing difficulties, organ failure, as well as 25 cases due to Covid-19, and others.

“The government is committed to providing the best services to detainees at the immigration depots by providing care and protection to them whilst in detention.

“The detention management procedures in the immigration depot have been included in the director-general immigration standing instructions on administrative and management of immigration depots,” he said when replying to a question raised by Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said (BN – Pengerang) in Dewan Rakyat on Thursday (March 17).

Azalina had asked the Ministry whether there were deaths in immigration detention depots for the past five years and what were the steps done to investigate and prevent such incidents from happening.

Ismail noted that the Immigration Department through its cooperation with the Health Ministry have placed 25 assistant medical officers grade U29/32 at the immigration depots throughout the country to provide early medical care to detainees.

He added that in a visit to the immigration depots by him and the Home Minister, they have also asked for the immigration depots to be equipped with CCTV cameras to ensure the safety of detainees among themselves as well as for the immigration officers on duty to follow the standard operating procedures that they have set.

He noted that there are 18 immigration depots throughout the country.ENDS