The recent court order for the remand of a 12-year-old murder suspect in Kajang Prison is a violation of the rights of young prisoners, the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) said today.

Suhakam commissioner Prof Hamdan Adnan said the authorities police, social welfare department, the judiciary and the Attorney-General's Chambers should follow the procedures drawn up at a Suhakam-organised workshop last year when dealing with juvenile suspects.

"While it is the court's duty to ask whether there is a more suitable place to hold the accused juvenile, other agencies should also play their part in ensuring that the juvenile does not mingle with other adult prisoners," he said.

"Our last year's annual report has very clearly stated the guidelines on the rights of young prisoners, to which the participants [of the Suhakam's workshop] had agreed to."

Suhakam's 2001 annual report states that "wherever possible, a person under the age of 21 who has been accused of committing a crime shall not be detained in prison".

It also added that young prisoners should not be detained in prison for a long period of time pending trial or sentencing as it will "interfere with their mental and emotional development".