KDN gazettes 13 prison academies as detention centres for MCO offenders

The government through the Ministry of Home Affairs (KDN) has gazetted 13 prison academies as a new detention centres to house offenders who violate the Movement Control Order (MCO).

Senior Minister (Security Cluster), Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the move was to prevent overcrowding in prisons and to maintain social distancing among inmates.

"Due to too many arrests while we reduce the issuance of compounds, and when they are brought to court, then the issue is prisons would be overcrowded and social distancing cannot be practised.

"As such, the Cabinet meeting has decided for the Home Ministry to gazette 13 prison academies as a new detention centres for MCO offenders and the like.

"Since we have 13 academies that we have turned into prisons or detention centres for MCO offenders, we will ensure social distancing is adhered to," he said at a press conference here Wednesday.

However, Ismail Sabri said, the rules and laws that apply to MCO offenders are the same as those against other criminal offenders who are imprisoned in ordinary prisons without special privileges.

"This does not mean that when they enter the academy, they will be given luxury food and as such. This will not happen.

"It remains in accordance with the regular prison SOP. Further details of the legislation and the like will be discussed by the PDRM, the Attorney General and the Prisons Department," he added.