SIBU: Construction of a new Sibu prison costing RM300 million has been approved by the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Sibu MP Oscar Ling Chai Yew said the project, which will have a capacity for 1,000 inmates, is expected to be completed by Dec 2028.
During the current parliamentary Q&A session, Ling asked the ministry about the issue of overcrowding in Sibu Prison, enquiring when the new facility would be ready and what its total cost would be.
“Deputy Home Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Dr Shamsul Anuar Nasarah responded that the new prison project has been approved.
“It will be a modern facility with a capacity for 1,000 inmates and is scheduled for completion in Dec 2028. The government will invest RM300 million in its construction,” Ling said in a statement on Monday (Aug 25).
He said that the current Sibu Prison was built in 1918, with a capacity of about 450 inmates, but the current number of prisoners has exceeded 170 per cent of its intended capacity.
He stressed the urgent need for a modern prison to address current demands.
Ling also raised additional questions during the session, asking whether the ministry is willing to reform Malaysia’s prison system, such as considering alternative sentencing for minor offenses, and how it ensures that current rehabilitation programmes effectively reduce recidivism.
He further highlighted the limited societal acceptance of former inmates and asked how the ministry plans to help them reintegrate into society.
“Shamsul Anuar replied that the ministry is committed to prison reform. Rehabilitation programmes now include new elements and activities to equip inmates with better skills for reintegration after serving their sentences. He added that the ministry is actively working to improve societal reintegration for former inmates,” Ling stated.
He concluded by pointing out that the Sibu new prison project was first proposed in 2016, with an estimated cost of RM100–200 million at the time.
Now that the cost has risen to RM300 million, he hoped the project will not face further delays and urged the ministry to ensure it is completed on schedule to address the issue of overcrowding.
