Sarawak prisons report 0.25 pct recidivism

Nordin (third left) pinning an award on a recipient.

By Jacob Achoi

KUCHING, Jan 26: Prisons in Sarawak reported only 0.25 per cent recidivism, said General Commissioner of Prisons Dato Nordin Muhamad.

He said this was compared to the total of 13.8 per cent in reported recidivism cases in the country.

“In Sarawak, only 0.25 per cent recidivism was reported, which is comparable to one case from the 300 criminals who were released from prison and this is an excellent achievement by prisons here (Sarawak),” he told reporters after officiating at a Prisons Department award presentation ceremony for Sarawak zone at the latter’s headquarters at Jalan Borneo Heights, here.

A total of 21 staff, including Deputy State Secretary Datu Dr Sabariah Putit received awards.

Meanwhile, Nordin said a committee will be formed as soon as possible to study the success of prisons in the state.

Nordin also said prisons in Sarawak are not faced with problems of overcrowding, except in Miri but within variance which is below 10 per cent.

“The overall case of overcrowded prisons in Sarawak is 9 per cent,” he pointed out.

He also told reporters that the 10 satellite prisons in country have been successful in detecting 98.5 per cent of Covid-19 cases among the inmates.

He explained that these prisons would screen the inmates, and those with Covid-19 symptoms would be quarantined before putting them in jail. — DayakDaily