Special VIP cells? It’s a big lie, say officers

PETALING JAYA: All inmates in local prisons have to wake up early in the morning for a roll call and are served the same food – VVIPs get no special treatment there, say former prisons officers.

They denied that such high-profile prisoners have special facilities in prison.

“That is a big lie. I worked for almost 39 years, and never have I come across a prison room as luxurious as those shown in viral videos,” said a former prisons officer who spoke to The Star on condition of anonymity.

“My comrades who worked in the Kajang and Sungai Buloh prisons have said the same thing.”

However, the officer admitted that prominent individuals would normally be separated from the other inmates.

He was referring to former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak who was sent to Kajang Prison on Tuesday after the Federal Court rejected his final appeal.

The officer said keeping VVIPs separate from other inmates was not unusual, adding that police and prison officers and those arrested under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma) would also receive the same treatment.

“VVIPs in Penang Prison, for example, will be placed in a room at the prison clinic or in a quarantine room.

“Police officers or prison guards sentenced to jail will also be separated because we are afraid other inmates might seek revenge,” he added.

The officer said the clinic and the quarantine cell have a more comfortable mattress and a toilet that is not shared, but he denied VVIPs would be given access to mobile phones and the Internet.

“This is ridiculous; they are prisoners.

“If we give them access to the outside world they can make plans or continue to harm others,” he said, adding that even officers are not allowed to bring phones into prison.

In terms of food, the office said VVIPs and those who are about to serve a life sentence would have their meal prepared separately.

“They will get the same menu. The only thing is that their food could taste better and their trays would look nicer, that’s all.

“We serve them chicken three times a week, fish and beef sometimes on festive days,” he said, adding that the prisoners get three meals a day.

He said the prison would also take into consideration requests made by prisoners.

“If it involves VVIPs, we will forward the request to the Home Ministry and we will only provide it upon approval.

“Sometimes they request for a thicker mattress citing medical reasons, or food we do not provide,” he added.

On the attire, he said a VVIP would most likely be wearing a pagoda or round neck T-shirt with long or short pants.

Malaysian Prison Retirees Association president Ismail Mohd Khalil said Najib would have to wear the same clothes as other inmates and his day-to-day activities would mostly revolve around studying at the prison library, praying at the surau or working.

“He will have to wear the same clothes as other inmates and wake up for roll calls at 6.30am with others too, unless he is warded at the prison’s clinic. He will have to go back to his normal cell when he’s discharged,” he said.

Ismail, who served the Prisons Department for over 34 years, said they would keep a close watch on the VVIPs for fear they would hurt themselves or try to commit suicide.

“They are big names, so we have to keep a close eye on them in case they tarnish the department’s name – but if they show no sign of distress, then there is no need to do so,” he said.

Ismail said all inmates would have to go through orientation and counselling when they are convicted to adjust them to life in prison.

“Usually VVIPs are upset and in distress when they are behind bars because life in prison is definitely not the same as life outside,” he said.

Ismail, who was posted at Kajang Prison, said there is no special cell there.

“I’m sharing my experience so that the public will stop spreading false information about special cells. There is no such thing; even the mattress is a normal mattress,” he said.

The Prisons Department yesterday denied rumours that Najib would be given special treatment at Kajang Prison.

It posted a viral photo supposedly showing Najib’s spacious jail cell with a TV, shelves, three beds and a table on their Facebook with a caption that read “stop the spread of fake information”.