PETALING JAYA: The Pengkalan Chepa prison in Kelantan is the most overcrowded prison in the country, says Prisons Department director-general Datuk Nordin Muhamad.

       He said this complex held 37% of the state’s inmate population based on statistics as of Feb 15.

       “To combat this (overcrowding), the department has organised several inmate transfers to other prisons.

       “This step is to reduce the strain on the seriously overcrowded prison and to ensure it is safe and under control,” he added.

       Nordin was referring to his statement in February that prisons nationwide were housing 75,000 inmates, while their total capacity was 71,000.

       This, he said, was 5.6% above the designated total capacity across the country.

       He was quoted as saying this during a briefing to the Raja Muda of Selangor, Tengku Amir Shah Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah.

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       Nordin also said that inmates in the remand category faced the most overcrowded conditions in prisons to date.

       However, inmates listed under “serious crime” do not face overcrowding issues.

       “For prison institutions that have exceeded capacity, the department will arrange to transfer inmates to those that are operating below capacity,” he said.He added that the Prisons Department Strategic Plan 2021-2025 has also committed to replacing ageing prisons.

       The prisons slated for replacement are those over 50 years old, which would be replaced with new buildings with the same capacity.

       “This is to ensure non-conducive prisons are replaced with more modern facilities that are suitable for current needs,” he said.