The Home Ministry today revealed that 425 prisoners had died during their incarceration between last year and this July.

According to the statistics released in the Dewan Rakyat, 237 inmates died last year, which is an average of 19.75 deaths per month.

However, the monthly average for the first seven months of this year rose to 26.86 deaths per month with 188 fatalities reported nationwide.

The ministry also revealed that 23 people had died in the country's police lock-ups during the same period. Out of this total, 16 died last year.

The statistics were contained in the ministry's written reply to Dr Hasan Ali (PAS-Parit Buntar). Copies of the reply were distributed to the media by Deputy Home Minister Chor Chee Hueng at the Parliament lobby later. The written reply did not specify the cause of the deaths.

However, the deputy minister remained tightlipped on the increase of prison deaths when quizzed by journalists.

Recent cases

The high number of deaths in custody, especially in police lock-ups, have raised the concern of various quarters, including human rights group.

Among the more recent cases, was the death of a 28-year-old coconut trader Ho Kwai See in August at the Sungai Buloh prison after a week under police detention.

The deceased was arrested for an alleged drug offence and the post-mortem result attributed his death to a "perforated ulcer".

However, his family became suspicious after discovering bruises on his body and demanded a second post-mortem, leading to a legal battle.

The court later quashed the family's demand.

Last August, the families of three youths who died in police custody called upon the then chief justice Mohamed Dzaiddin Abdullah to order an inquest.

The families had claimed that S Tharma Rajen, 19, M Ragupathy and Vivashanu Pillai, both aged 24 had died under mysterious circumstances.

Following this an inquest into Tharma Rajen's death was called and is still proceeding.