SIBU: Four mobile cabins will be placed at the transit centre (PTP) of Sibu Prison to improve the facilities there.
Sibu Prison director Hamad Seman said each mobile cabin can accommodate six prisoners, thus increasing the capacity at the PTP which now accommodates around 50 prisoners.
“The establishment of the PTP was a measure to prevent the spread of Covid-19 among inmates in the main prison building, with the method of isolating new inmates for 14 days before they are transferred to the main prison.
“If an inmate was tested negative for two screening tests within the period of 14 days at PTP, they will then be admitted to the main prison building,” he said when contacted today (March 12).
He added that the PTP also accommodates prisoners who have just returned from court or hospital.
“I advise the community that they do not have to worry because the prisoners are really taken care of according to the standard operating procedure (SOP).
“The prison staff also undergo swab tests from time to time to ensure that we are also free from Covid-19,” he said.
Hamad also added that Sibu Prison will stop accepting new inmates for now.
“New inmates will be temporarily housed in police lock-ups,” he explained.
Sibu Prison so far has 500 inmates.
The local community here has been voicing out their concern towards the Jalan Awang Cluster which involves prison inmates.
The cluster was declared by the State Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) on March 8.
One of the 42 Covid-19 positive cases in this cluster was a female detainee.
