Death of Taiping prison inmate still under probe, said Saifuddin Nasution

PETALING JAYA: The investigation into the death of a Taiping Prison inmate, allegedly due to assault last month, is still ongoing, said Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.

The Home Minister said the police are conducting a thorough investigation, including recording statements from witnesses and prison officers who were on duty on the day of the incident.

Saifuddin Nasution said that the Parliamentary Special Select Committee has also summoned the Home Ministry for feedback on the incident, reported Bernama.

"At the same time, Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) chairman Datuk Seri Mohd Hishamudin Md Yunus also contacted me to express their desire to meet with the parties involved.

"We will give full cooperation, but this process needs to be conducted in an orderly and phased manner.

“What’s important is the Prisons Department always carries out its responsibilities well and provides full cooperation to all stakeholders in investigating an incident,” he told the press after a working visit to Sungai Petani Prison in Kedah on Tuesday (Feb 11).

Earlier, Perak acting police chief DCP Zulkafli Sariaat said they received a report related to the death case on January 17 and opened an investigation paper under Section 302 of the Penal Code.

Meanwhile, the event saw 102 inmates greet their visiting family members from Penang, Pahang and Kuala Ketil nearby.

Saifuddin Nasution said such programmes could boost the motivation of other inmates as they can see that good behaviour is appreciated, thereby encouraging them to strive to improve themselves.

"We hope this programme provides a second chance to the inmates, proving that prison is not just a place for punishment but also a place for rehabilitation,” he said.