30 per cent of prison inmates are foreigners - Nur Jazlan

Deputy Home Minister Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed said foreigners who made up 30 percent of the 51,946 inmates in prisons nationwide were contributing to congestion at correctional facilities.

"Our prisons can only accommodate 52,150 people meaning there are only 204 vacancies left," he told reporters after witnessing the passing out parade of prison inspectors at the Malaysian Prisons College here, Wednesday.

It was the goal of the Home Ministry and the Prisons Department to reduce the number of inmates in prisons and thus lower the capacity, he said.

He also said prison authorities gave equal treatment to all inmates, including former opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

"It is unlikely that some inmates are given special treatment as it is unfair to the others.

"Datuk Seri Anwar is being treated well by prison officers at Sungai Buloh (Prison)," he said in commenting on claims that Anwar is not treated well in prison.

A total of 146 trainees comprising 134 men and 12 women completed their seven months training course today.