Dilapidated: Collapsing ceiling panels at the prisons staff quarters at Taman Matambai in Kepayan.
KOTA KINABALU: Prisons staff members will not be left out from the RM200mil additional allocation approved to repair dilapidated living quarters and facilities, says Home Ministry secretary-general Datuk Ruji Ubi.
Responding to claims of dire conditions of their living quarters in Taman Matambai in Kepayan here, he said the Prisons Department will get RM40mil of the RM200mil allocation.
“I am confident the staff members at the Kepayan prison will not be left out,” he said after accepting a mock key for the handover of the Inanam Police Housing project – comprising 102 units – by the developer in Inanam near here.
Ruji later handed over the mock key to Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani.
A prisons staff, who requested anonymity, claimed the living conditions at their quarters in the area were “deplorable” with the ceiling collapsing and nearly injuring residents.
They also complained of neglected facilities and damaged fences at the quarters, leading to thefts and break-ins.
Ruji said the RM200mil will be divided among four agencies under the ministry, namely the police, Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) and Immigration Department, besides the Prisons Department.
He said from that amount, RM98mil will be channeled for works to repair housing defects and facilities for police personnel.
“The allocation (RM98mil) will be divided, with RM30mil for the police force in the peninsula, RM30mil to Sarawak and about RM32mil to Sabah.
“Repairs will be carried out on the quarters of the Sabah Police Contingent (in Kepayan), district police headquarters, General Operations Force and the marine police,” Ruji added.
