Simpang Renggam Detention Centre - Malaysia's Very Own Abu Ghraib.

The overcrowded Simpang Renggam detention centre here is in a deplorable condition with many of its 4,200 inmates suffering from serious skin diseases.

This is among the findings of Malaysian Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) yesterday after spending four hours at the detention centre.

The centre, meant for 2,000 inmates, holds those detained under the Emergency Ordinance and the Dangerous Drugs (Special Preventive Measures) Act 1985, and also remand prisoners.

The Suhakam team, led by Datuk N. Siva Subramaniam, interviewed about 40 inmates.

Speaking later, he said Suhakam would raise the problems at its public inquiry meeting on Jan 15 before submitting recommendations to the government.

He said the Suhakam members saw unusable toilets and learnt about water cuts.

"The stench from the toilets was unbearable. The quality of food was below standard and unhygienic."

He added that during the interviews, they found many inmates suffering from scabies and other skin diseases, and were allegedly denied medical attention.

Siva also said that the warders were overworked and underpaid.

"This could’ve resulted in the flaring of tensions among the inmates. There are 4,200 inmates compared to 500 warders. Of these, only 200 are on duty on any given shift."

He also said the recent fight in the detention centre, as reported by the New Straits Times on Jan 5, was sparked by a "misunderstanding".

"We were told that an inmate shouted profanities at a warder, who then sounded the siren. About 20 guards rushed in with their batons and allegedly beat up the inmates."

He was told that the beatings went on for 30 minutes, resulting in 40 inmates getting outpatient treatment. (NST)

****** And we go around the world piously preaching human rights!!! Leaders who live in glass houses shouldn't throw anything, lest what happens inside becomes public knowledge to the whole wide world. I wonder how many of our pemimpin2 who curse and swear at the Americans over Abu Ghraib have ever been to or shown even a tiny little concern for those sods at Simpang Renggam? They too, like the Abu Ghraib jihadists, are human beings you know.
Image - Source
(Note - the above image is not of the Simpang Renggam detention centre which apparently is worse than this.)