HOME Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said the new Lahad Datu Prison with a 1,000-inmate capacity was expected to begin operations on October 1. 

He expressed hope that it would reduce overcrowding in the Tawau and Kota Kinabalu prisons. 

He said the prison would begin operations with a one-month trial period involving 100 prisoners. This would increase to 450 inmates before it started operating at full capacity in January 2024. 

“This additional capacity will help the Prisons Department to address overcrowding issues, which can lead to problems like transmission of infectious diseases and unconducive conditions that distress inmates and result in suicide, escape attempts, or fights,” he said. 

Earlier, he and Works Minister Alexander Nanta Linggi witnessed the handover of the Lahad Datu prison project from the Works Ministry to the Home Ministry.   

On other measures to reduce overcrowding, Saifuddin said his ministry, through the Prisons Department, had implemented release on parole and compulsory attendance orders. 

He added that the Prisons Department was also in the process of implementing a release on licence involving home detention. 

Meanwhile, Nanta said the construction of the Lahad Datu Prison, which began in 2017, was completed at a cost of RM176 million instead of the RM200 million approved in the 11th Malaysia Plan. 

On another matter, he said the Works Ministry hoped the remaining 35 work packages of the Sabah Pan Borneo Highway project could start immediately after the appointment of contractors was finalised at the end of this year. 

“We want to speed up the construction of the Sabah Pan Borneo Highway as work on several packages has yet to start,” he said. 

Construction of the project is expected to be completed by January next year.  – Bernama, August 29, 2023.