THE Prison Department here is planning to set up a new prison in Lahad Datu to tackle overcrowding in the Tawau prison, said Central Prison Director, Abdul Halim Mahasan.
He said that the Prison Department has applied to the government for a piece of land in Lahad Datu where the new prison is proposed to be built, but did not reveal any further information.
“Although we are trying to reduce the number of prisons and also reduce the number of inmates, we cannot run away from the fact that we are facing prison overcrowding.
“By setting up a new prison in Lahad Datu, we hope to relieve the overcrowding situation in the Tawau Prison which is now holding over 1,400 inmates,” he said during a visit by the Customs Department to the State Prison in conjunction with the World Customs Day Celebration.
He also said that the Central Prison currently holds about 1,580 inmates, Sandakan Prison holding about 790 inmates, Women’s Prison holding about 110 inmates, Women’s Henry Gurney School (19 inmates) and Henry Gurney School Keningau (202 inmates).
Abdul Halim also said that the prison’s parole system is showing an increase in effectiveness as a correctional institute, but is not able to eradicate stigma among the public.
“In prison, inmates get a second chance to lead a better life as they do not just sit in their cells, counting the days until they are released.
“The inmates are given work, training courses, counselling sessions (religious & psychological) for them to realise their wrongs and have a fresh start upon their release.”
The visit by the Customs Department lead by Deputy Customs director Hamzah Sundang to the State Prison is part of their month-long Customs Day Celebration (January 26 to February 26).
According to Hamzah, the visit which included some 30 Customs officers including several high ranking State officials was held to strengthen friendship bonds between the two departments.
“We are also holding this visit so that our Customs officers are aware and familiarised with the Prisons Department, what they do and how things are conducted here,” he said.
Hamzah said this in his speech after a briefing session by the Prisons Department as part of the visit at the Central Prison in Kepayan near here yesterday.
Prevention is better than cure.
ReplyDeletePerhaps it is best that early religious as well as moral education can stem this problem at aan earlier phase.
ReplyDeleteBut if the constructions to build this prison is deemed necessary, so be it.
ReplyDeleteThe prison system should also incorporated rehabilitation system within it's existing system so that criminals will not commit the same crime again in the future.
ReplyDeleteThis overcrowding issue is a serious problem for the local prisons. There is simply too much of them to fit into the existing prison space.
ReplyDeleteHopefully the customs and the prisons department will be able to come up with a solution for this overcrowding problem.
ReplyDeletemembina penjara pun membebankan kerajaan. kalau di Sabah kesesakan penjara disebabkan oleh warga asing/PATI. tidak habis2 buat masalah.
ReplyDeleteLahad Datu mempunyai ramai warga asing dan jumlah mereka hampir sama dengan orang tempatan. harap2 pembinaan penjara tersebut selesai dengan segera.
ReplyDeletePATI ni betul2 menyusahkan, diluar dan dalam dipenjara pun mereka susahkan kerajaan. selagi ada PATI, selagi itulah masalah di negara kita takkan selesai.
ReplyDeletememandangkan penjara di negeri ini dipenuhi oleh PATI atau warga asing, adalah lebih baik jika kerajaan dapat menjalinkan kerjasama dengan negara2 asal mereka bagi membolehkan banduan2 ini meneruskan hukuman di negara masing2..
ReplyDeletejika tidak ada cara lain, terpaksa la buat satu lagi penjara baru..
ReplyDeleteSebelum penjara baru dibina seharusnya cari jalan bagi mengurangkan kesesakkan tersebut.
ReplyDeleteHantar saja balik ke negara asal.
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