Malaysian Bar president Ezri Abdul Wahab said alternative sentencing mechanisms such as this would reduce the strain on the prison system.

In a statement, he also decried the “appalling” conditions in which inmates were allegedly held in a hall “infested with snakes, centipedes and strewn with refuse”.

“Overcrowding remains a persistent issue within our correctional facilities, exacerbating tensions, straining resources and compromising inmate safety.

“By establishing more compulsory attendance centres across Malaysia, non-violent offenders can serve structured rehabilitation programmes instead of being incarcerated in overcrowded and under-resourced prisons,” he said.

It was reported last Thursday that federal police had taken over the investigation into the recent alleged assault of Taiping prison inmates by officers, which purportedly led to the death of one prisoner.

There were claims that more than 60 prison wardens assaulted more than 100 prisoners at the prison.

Ezri also said since the incident involved a death in custody, it must be referred to a coroner to determine the exact cause.

“Any failure to do so would undermine public confidence in the justice system,” he said.