Pregnant detainees and new mothers at the Kajang Womens Prison are not being given preferential treatment for their special condition despite existing regulations which grant them certain benefits such as a special diet.

In one of two visitorial reports on detention centres released today, the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) highlighted various aspects involving women prisoners and their newborn children.

Although pregnant women and those who had just delivered were generally attended to by the prison nurses and those from the Kajang Hospital, the report said certain aspects of their entitlements were still lacking.

For example, Suhakam found that these women were not given the appropriate treatment as prescribed under Rule 23 of the Medical Services under the Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners.

The rule provides for special accommodation for all necessary pre-natal and post-natal care and treatment and arrangements being made wherever practicable for pregnant prisoners to deliver in a hospital outside the prison.

Suhakam also said a number of the prisoners children were also found to be suffering from skin disorders.

This (skin disorders) may be due to the fact that the children are seldom taken out of the building and also the location of the childrens corner which is on the same floor where the batik-printing and making of souvenirs are, the report stated.

Juvenile concern

Suhakam commissioners had visited the Sungai Buloh Prison and the Kajang Womens Prison in August and October last year respectively.

The report also mentioned that fathers could only meet their children at the visiting counter and this was discouraging to those who wanted to spend more time with them.

Nevertheless, Suhakam commended the Kajang Womens Prison for good and effective administration despite the numerous constraints.

It recommended that two more womens prisons be built either in Pahang, Johor or Selangor to help cater for the increasing number of women detainees.

The report also recorded findings on juveniles in prisons, stating that the authorities be more considerate towards juveniles as they were impressionable could still become good citizens and contribute to society.

The main objective with regard the administration and management of the juvenile justice system is to minimise their exposure to the criminal system. The authorities should have different policies for juveniles and adult prisoners, said the report.

Representatives from the Bar Councils Kuala Lumpur Legal Aid Centre, which holds regular legal aid clinics in both prisons, had accompanied Suhakam commissioners during the Sungai Buloh Prison visit.

Inspection method condemned

In its second report based on a visit to the Kapar police station in Klang last July, Suhakam condemned as extreme the 100 percent inspection of suspects done by police.

It said the 100 percent inspection as explained by police was done on a one-to-one basis between a police officer and a suspect who will be ordered to strip naked. The suspect will then be asked to squat so that if any hidden object falls out, a sound can be heard.

Suhakam recommended that suspects be bodily inspected according to the alleged offence.

It said the 100 percent inspection procedure by police was against Article 5 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and also principles 1 and 6 of the Body of Principles for the Protection of All Persons Under Any Form of Detention or Imprisonment.

The article and the principles concerned state that all detainees should not be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment when under detention.