Sarawak currently has about 1,287 inmates in its six prisons state-wide, director of the state Prison Department, Abdul Kadir  Rais said in Sibu today.     

Of the number, 25 percent are foreigners, he told reporters after presenting a paper at a crime prevention briefing session with 600 secondary students and the National Service Training camp participants from the Bumimas and Junaco Park Camps, at the Civic Centre.     

The one-day function was organised by the state branch of the Malaysian Anti-Crime Foundation (Yayasan Pencegahan Jenayah Malaysia).

 

Abdul Kadir said the figure also included 30 individuals on parole and 41 on death row, mostly for committing murders.

 

"On juvenile offenders, we have 59 serving their term. We have sent another 55 to the Henry Gurney School in Keningau, Sabah.

 

"There is a plan to set up such a correctional facility in Kuching. This is at the request of parents. We hope to set up this school either by next year, the latest," he said.

 

Earlier in his briefing, he said the crime situation in the state was still very much under control.

 

"If you want to compare, the Kajang prison which is just one of the prisons in Selangor, there are more than 5,000 inmates," he said.

 

Abdul Kadir said his department was still identifying a suitable site for the new Sibu Prison since the current one was small and located within population centres and schools.

 

- Bernama