The Malaysian Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) today met with prison officials to follow up on complaints made by Internal Security Act detainees of conditions in the Kamunting Detention Camp in Perak.
The Suhakam inquiry panel set up to probe into complaints of ISA detainees, entered the camp and spoke with 10 prison officials including camp commandant Abdul Basir Muhammad.
"We met them from 10am until 1pm and spoke about some of the allegations raised by the detainees yesterday.
"After this, we will also be talking to police officers who have been accused of [rights] violations," commissioner Prof Hamdan Adnan told malaysiakini today.
At present, the visit was limited to the prison facilities in Kamunting, he added.
Hamdan is part of the three-member inquiry panel headed by Suhakam vice-chairperson Harun Hashim, together with fellow commissioner Asiah Abu Samah.
In a first ever public inquiry on ISA detentions which concluded yesterday at the Taiping Prison's sports club after two days, detainees gave accounts of the humiliation and abuse they went through during their initial 60-day detention — such as being forced to strip off their clothes and being slapped repeatedly — under police custody before they were sent to Kamunting.
New toilets
Other complaints were of skin rashes, rust-coloured water supply and visitation hours that were too short. They also said the barriers separating them from family members during visits were a violation of human rights.
According to Hamdan, prison authorities said the dirty water supply can only be rectified by the Water Works Department.
"The officers also drink and use the same water given to the detainees and sometimes even the officers suffer from rashes. They said that the problem lies with the Water Works Department," Hamdan said.
He also said that the prison authorities will deal with the lack of toilet facilities complained of.
"The prison authorities have already said that they have been given RM46,000 to build new toilets for the inmates," Hamdan said.
Lack of rooms
As for the short time allotted to detainees to see visiting families, he said that was due to the lack of rooms.
"Normally, during public holidays, around 40 families would come to visit the detainees and there are only six rooms to cater for them. On normal days when there are not so many people, they usually get an hour.
"As for the barriers, the authorities have to put them up because there have been instances of drugs being smuggled in. Food brought by family members is checked and usually passed through," Hamdan said.
Over Tuesday and yesterday 17 witnesses were brought before the inquiry. Witnesses ranged from suspected Malaysian Mujahidin Group (KMM) members to
silat
cult al-Ma'unah members, and forgers of travel documents and currency.
The testimonies of witnesses and officials will be compiled into a report. No date has been set for the conclusion of the inquiry, nor for the publication of the report.
* Editor's note: In response to Suhakam's letter , parts in italics have been changed so as to make it clear that the detainees' allegations of abuse during their initial 60-day detention under police custody were not directed at the Kamunting Detention Camp authority.
