2,571 detainees died in past nine years - Star, 24/3/2009

2,571 detainees died in past nine years

A TOTAL of 2,571 detainees died of various diseases while being held in the country’s prisons, rehabilitation centres and illegal immigrant detention depots between 1999 and 2008, Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar said.

The illnesses included HIV/AIDS, septicaemia, tuberculosis, cancer, heart and blood diseases and asthma.

He said the detainees also died due to suicides and fights.

A total of 153 detainees died while in police custody during the same period, he told Liew Chin Tong (DAP – Bukit Bendera) in a written reply.

Syed Hamid said procedures that must be followed by the authorities in the cases of deaths of detainees included holding coroner’s inquest, while their family members were officially informed.

On another matter, Syed Hamid told Fong Po Kuan (DAP – Batu Gajah) the promotion procedures for rank-and-file policemen and lance corporals were carried out in the same manner without taking into consideration where they were stationed.

He said 1,539 policemen were not given promotion and pay rises during the past five years.

”The policemen had not fulfilled the requirements of passing the competency and law tests as stated in the No 8 (2008) Service Circular.

”Their overall test results were low while others had disciplinary problems and lack of new openings in the service,” Syed Hamid said. - Star, 24/3/2009, 2,571 detainees died in past nine years