Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail announced that a new prison capable of accommodating 1,000 inmates in Lahad Datu district on Sabah’s east coast will be operational by January next year. The new facility aims to alleviate overcrowding in prisons located in Tawau, Sandakan, and Kota Kinabalu. To combat the issue, the prison will undergo a one-month trial period with 100 prisoners and expand to accommodate 450 inmates before reaching full capacity in January. Saifuddin Nasution emphasized that the additional capacity will help address problems such as the spread of infectious diseases, unfavorable living conditions, and incidents like suicide, escape attempts, or fights among inmates.
The prison was officially handed over from the Works Ministry to the Home Ministry in Lahad Datu during a ceremony attended by Saifuddin Nasution and Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi. Speaking about the prisoners, Saifuddin Nasution mentioned that the Prisons Department has implemented the parole system as a measure to tackle the issue of overcrowding. Furthermore, the department is in the process of implementing the release on licence program, which involves home detention.
Nanta Linggi disclosed that construction of the Lahad Datu prison, which amounted to RM176 million, began in 2017 and was approved under the 11th Malaysia Plan (11MP).
Credit: The Star : News Feed
