Ahmad Rizal, a prison inspector, testifying at a Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) inquiry here today, said many younger officers were ill-equipped to handle high-risk situations and claimed the overall prison environment was “unfit for both staff and inmates”.
He said junior officers were “not trained or ready” for high-tension operations such as the Jan 17 transfer of more than 100 inmates from Hall B to Hall E.
“I was shocked when I first arrived,” he said, describing the cells as dark and cramped, with barely a few feet of space in each room.
Rizal urged Suhakam to recommend improvements to the living conditions at Taiping prison and to consider replacing officers whom he described as unfit to handle volatile situations.
He said inmates at other prisons were less likely to lash out due to lower stress levels, citing a more humane environment.
Rizal was referring to the root of the Jan 17 incident, where inmates resisted relocation to Hall E after complaining about the lack of proper toilets in the hall’s cells.
He also alleged that some staff were colluding with inmates to sell banned items.
“We can catch the inmates, but when it comes to officers, we don’t have enough proof,” he said.
Psychological toll and regrets
When shown CCTV footage of the Jan 17 incident, Rizal admitted he lost control and said the experience took an emotional toll on him.
“I couldn’t sleep for months. I cried as soon as I got home. I felt like I had failed my family. I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to protect them,” he said.
He added that he had been undergoing psychiatric treatment since March and is on medication for depression and insomnia. He said his symptoms began in 2023 but worsened during his time at the Taiping prison.
He said he had repeatedly asked for a transfer away from high-risk duties, but that his requests were denied.
Rizal made these remarks at the Suhakam inquiry into the alleged abuse of more than 100 inmates by around 60 wardens during the Jan 17 relocation.
The commission is investigating claims of brutality that allegedly led to the death of one inmate and injuries to several others.