Fahmi: Putrajaya to examine’s Suhakam’s Taiping Prison findings before taking action
KUALA LUMPUR, May 27 — The government will scrutinise Suhakam’s findings on the Taiping Prison incident that left one inmate dead before deciding on further action, says Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil.
Fahmi, who is also the government’s spokesman, said the matter has not yet been discussed at Cabinet meetings, but emphasised that Putrajaya is concerned by the findings presented by the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam).
“Usually, Suhakam’s annual report will be tabled in Parliament for debate, and we will study it. We are concerned about Suhakam’s findings.
God willing, we will examine them before taking any action,” he was quoted saying by Free Malaysia Today.
The inquiry revealed that more than 100 Taiping prison inmates were assaulted by approximately 60 wardens during a transfer exercise from Hall B to Block E on January 17 last year. One detainee, Gan Chin Eng, died following the incident.
While one warden has been charged with culpable homicide over Gan’s death, Suhakam has called for criminal charges to be filed against other wardens involved in the assault following its public inquiry.
The commission’s findings prompted Digital Minister and DAP Chairman Gobind Singh Deo yesterday to demand answers from the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) and Attorney-General (AG) over the incident.
Earlier today, the Prisons Department said it would fully cooperate with the relevant authorities in examining Suhakam’s findings on the matter.
