Kamunting detention centre to be well-known agro-tourism spot by 2020

The Kamunting Detention Centre in Taiping which is retained as a detention centre with an agro-prison concept will be a well-known agro-tourism centre by 2020.

Prisons Department director-general Datuk Seri Zulkifli Omar said the detention centre would be involved in various agriculture projects like vegetable farming, livestock breeding, freshwater fish rearing and kenaf growing.

"It is expected to earn income of over RM1.5 million a year after all the projects are completed compared to RM520,000 made last year," he said during his visit to the detention centre, here, today.

On Monday, Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the Kamunting detention centre would be retained with an agro-prison concept in line with the self-sufficient concept introduced by the Prisons Department.

He said the detention centre would be used to churn out agriculture produce such as vegetables and fish for the prisoners' consumption.

Zulkifli said among the projects to be implemented was raising catfish production to 500,000 by increasing the number of fish ponds from 51 to 100, adding that the fish could be sold at

RM6.50 per kilogramme.

He said the number of cattle reared would also be increased from 32 to 100 soon and to reach the targeted capacity of 200.

"An abattoir and a beef processing centre are also in the plan," he said.