There were more than 1,700 deaths in prison and police custody in the past 15 years, according to figures released by the government to Parliamentary Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang.

From 1990 till September last year, a total of 1,583 deaths among prisoners were recorded in 28 prisons nationwide, with the highest number in 2003 when 279 inmates died.

During the same period, 150 detainees died in police lock-ups or custody.

The statistics were provided in a 49-page parliamentary written reply by Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who is also internal security minister in response to a written question submitted by Lim last September. The DAP leader has just received the reply.

According to Abdullah, out of the 1,583 prisoner fatalities, 1,425 were Malaysians - with majority 60 percent Malays - and the remaining were foreigners.

Among the causes they died from were highly attributed to diseases such as HIV/Aids, septicaemia, pulmonary tuberculosis, pneumonia, cardiac ailment and other illnesses.

Most of these prisoners were held under the Dangerous Drugs Act, Penal Code and the Drug Dependants (Treatment and Rehabilitation) Act.

"Of the 150 deaths in police custody, the highest number of them - 60 people - had died of unspecified illnesses followed by 33 suicide cases.

In a breakdown to the 52 inquests carried out on the 150 deaths, the prime minister stated that 14 of them were identified as suicide cases.

'Meaningless term'

Lim questioned the contradictory figures and called for further details on the actual causes of the unspecified illnesses.

Similarly, he also asked the premier to explain the 271 prisoner fatalities or about 17 percent of the total deaths that were stated as having died from 'other illnesses'.

"This meaningless term should not be allowed to hide a multitude of sins," Lim stressed.

The DAP leader also questioned why the average annual prisoner fatalities in the past three years had leapt more than 1,140 percent to 228.3 deaths as compared to the first three years between 1990 to 1992, when only an average 20 deaths a year was recorded..

He also expressed concern on the deterioration in the health care conditions due to the high number of fatalities caused by septicaemia and tuberculosis.

"I find the answer, though detailed, most unsatisfactory, unacceptable and shocking, as it raises many questions about police and prison efficiency, accountability, transparency and integrity.

He urged the Police Royal Commission - which has just been granted a three-month extension - to make an in-depth study and furnish a report on the statistics, or otherwise, a royal commission of inquiry should be formed to look into the matter.

In a parliamentary written reply to Lim yesterday, the prime minister also revealed that 358 people were executed by hanging in the past 24 years and a total of 102 people are currently being held under the notorious Internal Security Act, which allows for detention without trial.