Day: April 1, 2017

Suhakam: Reforms underway at immigration detention centres

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Source: The Star Online

Suhakam chairman Tan Sri Razali Ismail, pic from the Star Online.

Suhakam chairman Tan Sri Razali Ismail, pic from the Star Online.

PETALING JAYA: Steps are being taken to remedy the situation at immigration detention centres which have seen more than 100 deaths over the past two years.

Malaysian Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) said the Immigration Department had introduced major reforms at its detention centres.

“At a meeting last week, the Immigration Department informed us that the dilapidated centres are in the process of being rebuilt, standard operating procedures are being revised and healthcare improved.

“We also note that there are now medical assistants at every immigration depot,” said Suhakam chairman Tan Sri Razali Ismail (pic) on a statement Saturday.

However, due to severe budget and resource constraints faced by the Department and their focus on emergency healthcare, Razali recommended that the Health Ministry step in to improve the standard of healthcare in the centres. Read more →

Tight budgets to blame for poor medical care of detainees?

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Source: FMT News

Razali Ismail of Suhakam says Immigration Department detainees are entitled to the same level of medical care as others in the community. Pic from FMT News.

Razali Ismail of Suhakam says Immigration Department detainees are entitled to the same level of medical care as others in the community. Pic from FMT News.

KUALA LUMPUR: The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) is concerned that the Immigration Department is facing limitations in budget and resources in its attempt to meet international standards for the healthcare of detainees.

Its chairman Razali Ismail said the department, which held a discussion with the commission last week, was coping with heavy constraints.

“Under international standards, detainees are entitled to the same level of medical care as individuals in the community at large but Suhakam notes that the Immigration Department is coping with severe budget and resource constraints,” he said in a statement.

He said the department had informed Suhakam of this issue during a discussion of major detention reforms, including improved medical care.

Razali was responding to a report by Reuters on March 30 that revealed more than one hundred foreigners had died in the past two years in Malaysia’s immigration detention centres based on documents by Suhakam. Read more →

1MDB’s total loss estimated at RM39 billion, says anti-graft body

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Source: Malaysian Insight

The Centre to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4) has produced a report on the RM39 billion 1MDB allegedly lost through fraud and mismanagement. The report is released in Petaling Jaya today. – Pic from The Malaysian Insight.

The Centre to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4) has produced a report on the RM39 billion 1MDB allegedly lost through fraud and mismanagement. The report is released in Petaling Jaya today. – Pic from The Malaysian Insight.

SCANDAL-RIDDEN national investment fund, 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), has lost an estimated RM39 billion through fraud and mismanagement, said an anti-graft watchdog, most of which is irrecoverable.

The losses, which were revealed in a report by the Centre to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4), come on the heels of a March 29 government announcement that the firm has paid off its short-term loans.

The RM39 billion losses, C4 said, were separate from the RM39.8 billion in outstanding debts 1MBD still owed in various bonds.

One of the report’s authors, P. Gunasegaram, said the RM39 billion losses included money that was allegedly stolen and funds wasted through mismanagement. Read more →