Dec 18, 2011 Kota Kinabalu: Kota Kinabalu Central Prison is running out of space to house Death Row convicts in Sabah and is in urgent need of another block.
Its Director Abdul Halim Bin Ma-Hasan said the present block is occupied by 38 male prisoners and could not cater to additional prisoners sentenced to death.
"We need another block that can house an additional 50 such prisoners because we noted a drastic increase in crime and narcotic cases that are pending trial in the High Court for offences that provide for the death penalty.
"Another reason is because the central prison here is the main prison for Death Row prisoners throughout Sabah and we have no choice but to accept them. Thus we need more cells to house them.
"We have submitted our application for funding to build one block to the development division of our headquarters in Kajang to be considered," he said.
Abdul Halim disclosed this during the Family Day of Kota Kinabalu Central Prison here on Saturday. The event, held for the first time for the 413 prison staff was aimed at fostering closer ties between the senior officers and the staff as well as the families.
While waiting for the application to be approved, Abdul Halim said they have decided to renovate an old block to house up to another 20 Death Row prisoners.
He attributed the drastic increase in the number of people facing the death penalty to the effectiveness of the High Court in Sabah in expediting cases.
Another reason, Abdul Halim said is that the enforcement authorities in the State have made a number of arrests, especially involving drug mules, who are investigated and charged under provisions that provide for the death penalty.
It was also learnt that the last known execution was carried out in the 1990s.
Fortunately, Abdul Halim said there is no congestion in the male prison that has 1,560 prisoners comprising 900 locals and 660 foreigners.
"Earlier, we did face a congestion in the male prison but when a new block was built that can accommodate 500 people, the problem was solved.
"We use the new block to place those who are remanded and foreigners who are charged with various criminal cases," Abdul Halim said.
A variety of activities were organised such as telematches for the children, contribution of cash and goodies to 30 senior citizens from the Kinarut Sri Pritchard Old Folk's Home and a total of 364 school bags were distributed to the children of staff.
Pembinaan penjara baru untuk menempatkan penjeayah asing patut dibayar oleh kerajaan mereka. Siapa suruh orang mereka datang membuat jenayah di negara orang lain?
BalasPadamRakyat tempatan Malaysia tidak patut menanggung kos untuk menempatkan penjenayah asing.
BalasPadamWarga asing yang kasi penuh tu penjara, buruk betul perangai. patut kena hantar saja balik warga2 asing tu. Biar kasi penuh penjara tempat asal mereka.
BalasPadamAre Sabah really need that??
BalasPadampenjara pun sesak oleh warga asing, mmg mereka lah penyumbang utama jenayah di negara kita.
BalasPadaminilah warga asing ni, ditangkap bikin masalah, tak ditangkap lagi bawa masalah. tak tau nak buat apa dgn dorang ni.
BalasPadampenjenayah ni memang betul2 membebankan. bukan saja perlu keluar belanja makan dan minum malah beban pembinaan penjara yang baru bagi menampung kesesakan penjenayah.
BalasPadamapa perkembangan Malaysia setuju untuk melakukan penukaran banduan dengan negara dari luar seperti Indoesia?
BalasPadamSah2 PATI penyumbang esar kepada masalah jenayah di Sabah. Kenapa mereka masih boleh berkeliaran tanpa rasa takut? Sakit mata memandang.
BalasPadamWe have to find a solution and it must be done immediately.
BalasPadamShould not let the foreigners stayed long in our prison. Send them back to where they belong!
BalasPadamjumlah warga asing yang ramai di Sabah menyebabkan banyak jenayah melibatkan mereka.
BalasPadamharap masalah ini akan dapat ditangani dan jenayah dapat dikurangkan.
BalasPadamperbelanjaan untuk banduan juga mencecah jutaan ringgit.. sebab itu ada banduan warga asing yang lebih suka berada dalam penjara berbanding dengan dihantar pulang ke negara asal..
BalasPadamlagi bagus jika kerajaan dapat bekerjasama dengan kerajaan di negara asal banduan warga asing ini bagi membolehkan banduan2 warga mereka menjalani hukuman di negara sendiri.. dengan cara ini kesesakan dalam penjara dapat diatasi sekaligus menjimatkan wang rakyat..
BalasPadamBetul..Kalau sempit dan kurang penjara akan memyebabkan pelbagai perkara yang berlaku lagi dalam penjara tersebut.
BalasPadam