The violence at Taiping Prison, Perak, on Jan 17, 2025, could have been avoided had the transfer of inmates within its prison walls been delayed, says Taiping Prison deputy director, Superintendent Shahrul Izzat Hamid.
Shahrul Izzat, during a public inquiry by the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) today, said he had recommended postponing the transfer of more than 100 inmates from Hall B to Block E. He proposed moving them three days after their arrival to allow better preparation and possible assistance from other agencies.
However, the prison’s then director, SAC Nazri Mohamed, ordered the move on Jan 17, the same day the inmates arrived from the Batu Gajah Correctional Facility – and the day violence broke out among prisoners and wardens. The incident resulted in the death of 62-year-old inmate Gan Chin Eng.
Suhakam’s assisting inquiry officer, Simon Karunagaram, asked why the inmates refused to move to Block E. Shahrul Izzat replied they were unhappy about using the bucket system and wanted to return to Batu Gajah.
Simon: Did you speak to the director about this?
Shahrul Izzat: Yes. I told him four rounds of negotiations had failed and suggested postponing the move until Monday (Jan 20). I said I would have left them in Hall B until then, but he cut me off and said the order to move them that day had to be followed. I relayed this to the other officers.
Suhakam chairman Datuk Seri Hishamudin Md Yunus, sitting with commissioner Dr Farah Nini Dusuki, asked for confirmation that he had suggested Jan 20.
Shahrul Izzat: Yes, I did.
Mohd Hishamudin: Why move later?
Shahrul Izzat: It would have given us more time to prepare Block E and request help from other agencies, which could have helped avoid the violence.
Dr Farah Nini: Earlier, you said you were unaware they were in Hall B instead of Block E. Why then leave them there?
Shahrul Izzat: I wasn’t informed. They were supposed to go straight to Block E. But since they were already in Hall B and refused to leave, I felt it was better for them to stay there. Yes, they could have remained in Hall B until Monday.
Simon: Your pocket diary says you preferred Monday.
Shahrul Izzat: Yes, because so many people were involved in the move.
Simon: So, it was the director’s instruction to move them that day?
Shahrul Izzat: Yes.
Shahrul Izzat also confirmed that Taiping Prison officer Raja Masrul Azan Raja Mansor admitted to using the prison’s mobile phone to record and photograph the incident inside Hall B, where most of the violence took place. Raja Masrul had denied this in his July 10 testimony.
He said he only knew an officer had used a phone after receiving a letter from Suhakam requesting to see it. When shown CCTV footage of the officer, it was his first time viewing it.
Suhakam’s assisting inquiry officer, Faiz Abdul Rahman: This is your first time viewing the footage?
Shahrul Izzat: Yes. I found out after Suhakam’s letter last month. I replied on July 9 that I had seen the phone, but it contained no photos or videos from Hall B.
Faiz: Who did you speak to about the phone?
Shahrul Izzat: Deputy prison administrators Teuku Mohd Hasbi Tarmizi and Khairul Esmail Mohd Zawawi.
Faiz: What did they say?
Shahrul Izzat: There was nothing in the phone and they asked me to check.
Faiz: Do you know who used it?
Shahrul Izzat: After the incident, yes.
Faiz: What did he say?
Shahrul Izzat: He admitted taking videos and photos.
Faiz: So someone deleted the evidence?
Shahrul Izzat: Yes, because he admitted making the recordings and taking photographs, but I don’t know who deleted them.
Shahrul Izzat admitted failing in his duty as violence occurred, though he successfully transferred the inmates to Block B. He also admitted officers ignored his order to stop hitting prisoners and that he was prevented from entering Hall B despite being the commanding officer.
He took offence when Simon suggested the officers did not respect his position. Hishamudin questioned his lack of urgency on seeing so many injured inmates.
Hishamudin: You were the highest-ranking officer at the scene. You didn’t assert your authority. You could have demanded entry.
Shahrul Izzat: I tried, but the doorway was crowded.
The inquiry continues tomorrow.
