By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Aug 25: A new Sibu Prison with a capacity of 1,000 inmates will be built at a cost of over RM300 million to address congestion, which currently exceeds the facility’s original capacity by 57 per cent, and to replace the existing outdated structure.
According to a TVS news report, Deputy Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Shamsul Anuar Nasarah said the project, which is scheduled for completion by Dec 2028 subject to annual budget approval and technical management, will be equipped with modern security systems in line with international standards and residential quarters for prison wardens.
“The new prison will have a capacity for 1,000 inmates, complete with warden housing blocks and modern security control systems that meet international standards based on humanitarian values,” he said.
He was responding to a question from Oscar Ling Chai Yew (Pakatan Harapan-Sibu) during Dewan Rakyat today regarding the ministry’s plans to tackle congestion at Sibu Prison, the expected completion timeline for the new facility, and its total cost.
Shamsul Anuar added that the project will involve not only construction but also supporting infrastructure and electronic security facilities, with a three-year completion timeframe.
“The Home Ministry (KDN) and the Malaysian Prison Department are committed to ensuring this project runs smoothly and delivers positive impact to the prison system, particularly in central Sarawak,” he stressed.
Meanwhile, he informed that KDN is carrying out a comprehensive reform of the national prison system in a progressive and inclusive manner, with emphasis on rehabilitation, skills training, and reducing recidivism.
He pointed out that initiatives such as Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), Teaching Factory, Work-Based Learning, and the Skills Training and Employability Programme (STEP) Industry have enabled inmates to acquire skills and improve their employability after release.
“As of July 2025, a total of 7,051 job opportunities have been offered through the Corporate Smart Internship (CSI) programme involving 789 active companies in the services, manufacturing and trade sectors.
“We want prisons to become centres of second chances for inmates, while also transforming societal perceptions to be more open towards reintegrating them into the community,” he added. — DayakDaily
