MCA National Youth Information Chief Neow Choo Seong has called for an independent panel or Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) to investigate alleged contraband smuggling syndicates operating inside Malaysian prisons following fresh allegations involving prison officers and inmates.
The call comes after the New Straits Times reported accounts from a former prison warden and an inmate alleging that well-connected “taikors” controlled contraband smuggling behind bars.
The reports surfaced amid public attention over composer Yasin Sulaiman’s claims that prison life could be influenced by money, drugs and powerful inmates, allegations that have been denied by the Malaysian Prisons Department.
“These recurring reports warrant an independent review,” Neow said.
He said the allegations should be treated as a matter of public accountability, noting that Pakatan Harapan had pledged to tackle corruption and plug governance leakages when it came to power.
“With PKR helming the Home Ministry through Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, the coalition should pay serious attention to these allegations and initiate a thorough probe,” he continued.
Neow said Malaysia had faced similar controversies before, pointing to the widely reported 1989 Kajang Prison scandal involving corporate figure Abdullah Ang, who allegedly commuted unescorted from prison to his family’s factory while serving his sentence.
“Money and influence must never dictate prison conditions,” he added.
He urged the Home Ministry to appoint an independent body to investigate the allegations and ensure that inmates who expose corruption are protected.
“Inmates who come forward to expose corrupt practices by prison officers should be treated as whistleblowers and granted full protection,” he said.
“At the same time, their claims must be rigorously vetted and independently corroborated to guard against fabricated or retaliatory allegations.”
Neow stressed that prisons should remain institutions focused on correction and rehabilitation rather than becoming environments where criminal networks continue operating.
“Incarceration follows a court conviction, with correction and rehabilitation at its core,” he remarked.
“Prison walls are meant to protect society and facilitate reform, not shield criminal networks from scrutiny or become places where inmates deepen criminal connections and learn new methods of offending undetected.”
He added that what happens inside correctional facilities remains a matter of public interest, accountability and the rule of law. ‒ Sept 22, 2026
Main image: Malay Mail
