KAJANG: Some 68,000 prison inmates are housed in 42 prisons, said Malaysian Prisons Department deputy director-general (Security and Correctional) Datuk Alzafry Mohamed Alnassif Mohamed Adahan.
He said the number was increasing every year.
However, the influx of new inmates this year had decreased due to the reduced crime rate as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
He said that although the latest number (of inmates) exceeded the prescribed capacity of 52,000, prisons could still house them.
"The number consists of 54,508 locals and 14,095 foreigners. Occupancy is increasing, and if you follow the trend, the number will not decrease."
He said this in conjunction with the Bank Rakyat Sinar Aidiladha Programme at Kajang Prison on Saturday. --Bernama