Amendment to Prisons Act for prisoner exchange in final stage

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KUCHING: The draft amendment to the Prisons Act 1995 to allow for exchange of foreign prisoners in the country is in the final stage prior to submission to the Attorney-General’s Chambers for tabling in parliament, Deputy Home Minister Datuk Wira Abu Seman Yusop said here yesterday.

He said the amendment would enable foreigners serving time in Malaysia to be relocated to their countries of origin, and overcome the current congestion faced by prisons in the country.

“Once the amendment is approved, we can draw up agreements with other countries for an exchange of prisoners,” he told reporters after chairing the monthly meeting with senior officers of the Prisons Department at the state prisons headquarters in Jalan Puncak Borneo, here.

He said the exchange of prisoners would not be automatic as it would depend on the cooperation extended by the other countries.

Malaysian prisons currently held 8,454 nationals of 20 countries, or 26 per cent of the total number of prisoners, he said. — Bernama