The mainstream media reports that ISA detainees are NOT tortured or suffer sexual abuse in Kemta aka Kem Perlindungan Kamunting aka Kamunting Detention Centre. BUT they are in the
PRC aka Police Remand Centre. It is remarkable that the Deputy Internal Security Minister Datuk Noh Omar actually went to Kemta to look for abuse there when all the time ISA detainees have been complaining that they were most often abused during their first 60 days of detention during their stays at various
PRC. When they are eventually sent to Kemta, the period of abuse and interrogation and solitary dentention and 'turning over' are usually over.
The Star has
this to report about the Deputy Internal Security MINIster's visit-cum-face-to-face
abuse fact finding mission to Kemta.
For the first time in the centre's history, reporters were also allowed to enter two of the ISA detainees' dormitories but no cameras, tape recorders or handphones were allowed inside.
The Deputy MINIster has created history, a first of its kind!Noh told a group of suspected Jemaah Islamiah (JI) followers in the first dormitory that he was there to check claims that they were tortured and suffered sexual abuse but the detainees' spokesman, identified only as Albakri Mohd, refuted the allegations.
Obviously barking up the wrong tree as the detainees had complained of abuses while at the PRC. And here it comes from the horse's mouth.“We have discussed the matter among ourselves and there is no torture or sexual abuse here. The torture actually occurs at the PRC (police remand centre) stage,” claimed Albakri.
Detainees' Spokeman, Albakri added ::
Albakri, however, said detainees were often given a tongue-lashing, spoken to in vulgar words and asked to stand for a long period.
What did the Deputy MINIster replied ::
This prompted Noh to interject, saying that this was probably done to make them a more disciplined lot, just like in schools.
This is how the Deputy MINIster thinks discipline is achieved or maintained in schools by lashing tongues and vulgar words? How surprising!
Albakri went on to add ::
Albakri alleged that a detainee, Osman Ali, was undergoing not physical torture but mental torture as his wife was often harassed by a warder, and that the matter had been reported to the police, the centre's advisory board and the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam).
“The warder even followed his wife while she was travelling on the train and we hope action will be taken,” said Albakri.
Is that particular warder given special duties? The Deputy MINIster says he will 'personally pursue' this alleged mental torture.
Here is another complaint of abuse at the PRC ::
At another dormitory occupied by 25 alleged JI and KMM members and several currency forgers, Noh was told by a JI member, who identified himself as Ahmad from Sandakan, that he was stripped naked at the PRC in Sabah.
So there you have it complaints of abuse at
PRC. It is obvious Deputy MINIster, Sir that you have gone to the wrong place looking for abuse and the whole Kemta visit was a waste of time and taxpayers' money or as the detainee sporting a white beard said :: a
"political show".
So when will you be investigating the abuses at the various
PRC, Deputy MINIster Sir, and create another
historical first by being the first Deputy MINIster to do so?
See Reuters video clip of Kemta
here :: Malaysia opens Infamous Prison Camp to Media.