Padang Serai MP N Surendran has accepted the ‘invitation’ by Deputy Home Minister Nur Jazlan Mohamed to personally experience conditions as an inmate in a Kajang Prison cell.

Surendran said he is prepared to do so if authorised by Nur Jazlan, who reportedly issued the ‘invitation’ last week, in response to opposition on his support for a call for rats, mosquitoes and cockroaches to be placed in prison cells.

“In the public interest, I thank him for providing this opportunity and accept his invitation.

“I am prepared to stay in Kajang Prison in similar conditions as the inmates in order to assess it, if Datuk Nur Jazlan as deputy home minister, will officially authorise it,” said Surendran in a statement today.

Nur Jazlan, who said that Surendran should personally experience and compare the conditions of a Malaysian prison cell to others around the region, had reportedly supported the suggestion first made by former Court of Appeal judge Mohd Noor Abdullah, in an interview with Bernama.

Mohd Noor, however, yesterday said his comment that there should be pests in prisons was only made in passing.

’Legally and morally wrong’

Meanwhile, Surendran said Nur Jazlan’s position on Mohd Noor’s initial comments was legally and morally wrong.

He pointed out that there were no provisions under the Prison Act 1995 or Prisons Regulations 2000, that provide legal authority to introduce pests into prison as means to torment prisoners.

“On the contrary, Regulation 3 enjoins that 'the treatment of prisoners shall be such as to encourage their self-respect and a sense of personal responsibility'.

“Whereas Regulation 55 mandates that prisoners be treated 'with kindness and humanity'. Is Nur Jazlan completely unaware of these provisions?,” he questioned.

At the same time, Surendran also said that introducing such pests as companions to prisoners, is in breach of Article 5 of the Federal Constitution which guarantees the right to 'life and personal liberty’ - including the right to live a healthy life.

“Additionally, it is surely immoral and unethical to treat prisoners in such a manner.

“If ever such a thing is implemented, our country would be the object of global horror and disgust,” he said.

Mohd Noor’s initial comments also raised concerns from other human rights groups, including Lawyers for Liberty and Centre for Human Rights Research and Advocacy (Centhra).