KUALA LUMPUR — Taiping Prison is no longer suitable for holding inmates, the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) has found following its public inquiry into the assault of prisoners by wardens in January last year.
“Taiping Prison is no longer fit to be used as a prison,” said Suhakam Chairman Datuk Seri Mohd Hishamuddin Md Yunus said today, adding that inmates must be transferred to a more suitable facility.
Built in 1897 and formerly known as the Taiping Gaol, the country’s oldest prison faces major administrative and structural limitations because of its status as a heritage building.
As a result, the facility has suffered long-term deterioration, including the continued use of outdated bucket toilet systems.
The structure, which is managed by the Prison Department, incurs high maintenance costs and there are limits as to the physical upgrades that can be done, particularly for sanitation infrastructure.
These issues were raised during Suhakam’s inquiry into the assault of around 100 prisoners by more than 60 masked and armed prison officers on January 17, 2025.
Suhakam today released a report on its findings from the inquiry, available for downloading from its website.
The Suhakam panel on the incident found that Taiping Prison faced worsening overcrowding and deteriorating living conditions.
Detainees had raised concerns over poor sanitation, flooding during heavy rain, infestations of mosquitoes and pests, restrictions on bathing and recreational activities.
Despite several rounds of discussions between prison officers and detainee representatives, no resolution was reportedly reached.
Inmates had also complained of delayed medical access.
The January 2025 violence occurred after inmates held a peaceful sit-in protest to object to their transfer to another block that was reputed to be overcrowded and unliveable.
More than 60 masked and armed prison officers are said to have assaulted the inmates despite their compliance with surrender instructions.
Inmates claimed they were beaten with batons, kicked, pepper sprayed and dragged while handcuffed.
The Suhakam inquiry heard testimonies that alleged prison officers saying that they had been “waiting a long time” to beat up the inmates, while another officer was said to have called the inmates “dogs” during the assault.
Suhakam in its report said the officers involved in the assault should face action, instead of only one warden who was charged in December last year with culpable homicide not amounting to murder for the death of one inmate.
The commission said there was sufficient video evidence to show that more than one officer had participated in the assault. – May 25, 2026