The Prisons Department is now renovating buildings at the Kamunting Detention Centre in Taiping to place Islamic State (IS) militant detainees in the country.

Prisons Department deputy director-general (security and correctional) Hassan Sakimon said the renovation was expected to be ready by year end to enable the detainees to be separated from other prisoners.

“We are making the necessary renovations these militant detainees are different from other detainees.

“If the IS militants are placed together with other prisoners, they could influence other detainees and the department is also placing prison officers who are specially trained to handle militant prisoners so that they are not influenced by IS militants,” he added.

Hassan told this to reporters after presenting certificates to 158 prison officers who attended the Prisons Basic Certificate Training Course at the Malaysian Prison Officer Training Centre (Pulpen) in Taiping today.

On July 16, Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said Malaysia had arrested 213 people involved in IS activities, including 27 foreigners.

He said the IS militant detainees were now held at the Simpang Renggam Prison in Johor and Machang Prison in Kelantan.

The Prisons Department is also planning to build a new prison in Lahad Datu, Sabah, under the 11th Malaysia Plan to overcome congestion in prisons.

- Bernama