GEORGE TOWN: The Penang Remand Prison, currently placed under the Enhanced Movement Control Order (EMCO) along with the prison quarters, welcomes any form of assistance from various quarters to ensure it has ample supplies to meet the needs of the prison staff and inmates.
Penang Remand Prison director Mohamed Jusoh Ismail said among the items needed were personal protective equipment (PPE), face shields, face masks and bottled water.
"Even before the EMCO, we have been getting contributions from the state government, associations, non-governmental organisations and individuals. We are thankful for that.
"However, we still need more items to ensure we have ample supply," he told the New Straits Times.
Jusoh, however, had no detailed information of the stocks available now.
On Tuesday, Penang Remand Prison deputy superintendent Azman Hussin said PPE stock at the Penang Remand Prison would last only for another week, with about 300 PPE suits needed daily by prison staff dealing with inmates.
The garment, he said, was not something to be worn for a long time.
He said if the EMCO at the remand prison and the prison quarters was extended, the PPE supply would not be sufficient.
On Tuesday, they received some 1,000 PPE from Seberang Jaya assemblyman Dr Afif Bahardin.
They also received disinfectant liquid, hand sanitiser and disposable gloves from the state government.
Over at the Seberang Prai Prison in Jawi, director, Zulkifli Abdul Manah said supplies of PPE and other items were sufficient for now.
"We sew our own PPE to the best of our ability and have been doing so since March.
"We can produce about 100 sets daily.
"Since March, we have been sewing our own PPE, which we supply to our headquarters, the Alor Star Prison and even non-governmental organisations.
"However, all that stopped recently when this prison reported positive Covid-19 cases among the new inmates sent here," he said, adding that they needed about 400 PPE suits daily.
Nevertheless, Zulkifli said they welcomed assistance from various quarters to meet the prison staff and inmates' needs.
Just a few days ago, they received 25,000 face masks.
On Tuesday, Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the state government was considering placing the Seberang Prai Prison in Jawi and the prison quarters there under the EMCO following the increasing number of Covid-19 cases reported there.
Up to Tuesday, the Jawi prison cluster logged 86 active cases. Two involved prison officers.