Malaysia rights panel disturbed over more
than 600 deaths in prisons and detention centers
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[April 04, 2017]
By A. Ananthalakshmi
KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Malaysia's
national human rights panel on Tuesday said it was disturbed by more
than 600 deaths at immigration detention centers and prisons over the
last two years, and called for immediate reform.
In its 2016 annual report, the panel, known by its Malay acronym,
Suhakam, said there were more than 100 deaths in immigration detention
centers and 521 deaths in prisons in 2015 and 2016. Twelve people died
in police lock-ups in 2015.
Last week, citing documents from Suhakam, Reuters reported that 118
foreigners, including undocumented workers, refugees and asylum seekers,
had died at detention centers in the last two years. More than half the
dead were from Myanmar.
Suhakam said deaths mostly stemmed from diseases in all prisons and
detention centers, where the government should look to improve
conditions and healthcare.
"There is little interest in the human rights of detainees," said
Chairman Razali Ismail. "This attitude is reflected in government
budgetary priorities and the resources made available for the running
and upkeep of all places of detention."
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Particularly in immigration detention centers, people spent long periods
unable to move freely or sleep comfortably in overcrowded cells, he
said, where conditions sometimes deteriorated to become "inhumane".
The government did not immediately respond to requests for comment on
Suhakam's report, published on Tuesday.
Former detainees, government agencies and rights groups have told
Reuters of grim living conditions in detention camps that are
overcrowded and unhygienic.
Some said they received insufficient food, water or healthcare, and many
developed skin and lung infections, or contagious diseases. All those
interviewed also alleged they were beaten by camp guards or saw others
being beaten.
Suhakam documents reviewed by Reuters showed detainees died from lung
infections, heart-related conditions and the bacterial disease
leptospirosis. No cause was attributed for 50 deaths.
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A general view of Bukit Jalil immigration detention center in Kuala
Lumpur, Malaysia, March 28, 2017. REUTERS/Lai Seng Sin/File Photo
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Last week, deputy home minister Nur Jazlan Mohamed told Reuters his
ministry had hit a budget brick wall in efforts to improve
conditions in immigration detention centers.
Malaysia's 13 detention centers had a total of 86,795 detainees
during various periods in 2016, the Enforcement Agency Integrity
Commission says.
"UNFIT AND UNSAFE"
Two of the detention centers Suhakam visited last year were in
dilapidated condition, the agency said in its report.
Three blocks of a detention center in southern Johor state, and two
blocks on northern Penang island were held "unfit and unsafe for
occupation," by the Public Works Department, it added.
The rights agency said the immigration department last week informed
it of "major reforms," such as better healthcare and repair of
dilapidated structures.
Southeast Asia-based migrant and refugee protection group Fortify
Rights urged a criminal investigation into the deaths.
"Malaysian authorities could begin tackling this by ending arbitrary
and indefinite detention of migrants, including refugees and
survivors of trafficking," Executive Director Amy Smith said in a
statement.
(Reporting by A. Ananthalakshmi; Editing by Clarence Fernandez)
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