GEORGE TOWN, Oct 13 — The Penang Remand Prison has received 100 beds from the Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) for the use of its inmates who are infected by Covid-19.
Its director Mohamed Jusoh Ismail said all the beds were received yesterday and were placed at a low risk treatment centre at two buildings in the prison which, prior to this, were empty.
‘’We wish to thank MAF for the beds for the use of the inmates who are infected by Covid-19 in the prison. Currently, the area in the prison is in a good condition and everything is proceeding smoothly.
‘’All the 159 inmates who are positive, aged 25 to 65 years, are now housed at the two blocks which were prior to this empty. The buildings are located far away from the cell blocks housing the other inmates,’’ he said when contacted by Bernama here, today.
He said all the inmates who were infected by Covid-19 were stable, and if there were level three positive cases, they would be sent to the Penang Hospital for further treatment there.
Mohamed Jusoh said the prison administration also received the help of the Malaysia Civil Defence Force to monitor the area outside the prison.
He said the administration was also prepared in all aspects including equipment if the administrative enhanced movement control order (AEMCO) was implemented in the prison area.
‘’The prison has adequate manpower and we are also always prepared to face any announcement by the government to implement AEMCO,’’ he said.
Yesterday, Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow was reported to have said that the Penang government had suggested that the federal government implemented the AEMCO at the Penang Remand Prison and quarters of the Penang Prisons Department.
The suggestion was made following the announcement of the Ministry of Health that the Penang Remand Prison Cluster yesterday recorded 141 new Covid-19 cases, which comprised only convicts.
Since October 5, the Penang Remand Prison Cluster recorded 160 positive cases which only involved convicts, including one who had died.
— Bernama
