PRESS STATEMENT
15 October 2026
HOME MINISTER & GOVERNMENT MUST EXPLAIN THE CURRENT DEPRIVATION OF WATER TO INMATES AT KAJANG PRISON & THE SHOCKING PRISON CONDITIONS
We have received shocking complaints regarding the current conditions at Kajang Prison that houses over 5,000 inmates. On 12 October 2026, we received serious complaints from lawyers representing inmates in the SOSMA trial being conducted within the prison premises that prisoners are not getting water supply.
This is unacceptable, as it jeopardizes hygiene, sanitation and the general health of the prison population.
The details are as follows:
1. The water supply now drips so slowly that it takes several hours to fill a single pail before the supply stops.
2. Each room is provided with only one litre of drinking water per day, which is grossly inadequate and will lead to health problems for the inmates.
3. Some inmates have been unable to use the toilet for up to two days due to the lack of water.
4. Further, only one person in a particular cell may be able to bathe in a day, leaving the remaining occupants without the opportunity to maintain basic personal hygiene or sanitation. On the morning of 12 October 2026, some individuals were only able to bathe at approximately 3.00 a.m., after prison officers brought a limited number of pails of water.
5. The food trays are unacceptably dirty, unhygienic and the food served is unclean.
These are not minor inconveniences. They concern the most basic conditions necessary for human dignity and well-being. The consequences are also apparent when legal representatives attempt to take instructions from their clients in preparation for court proceedings. The severe lack of access to water and bathing facilities has resulted in an unbearable body odour, reflecting the extent to which basic hygiene has been compromised.
It is appalling that the problems involving water quality and supply at Kajang Prison are not new and yet have not been resolved. Reports of ageing facilities and concerns over water cleanliness have persisted for years. The quality of water consumed by inmates has also been a continuing cause for concern. The question must therefore be asked: why have the Home Ministry and the Government consistently failed to resolve this basic issue?
We must remember that the individuals detained are human beings. Regardless of the prison sentence they must undergo, they remain entitled to humane treatment and basic necessities. Detention must not mean deprivation of dignity and fundamental rights. The applicable legal framework, including the Prison Regulations 2000 and the constitutional protections afforded under Article 5 of the Federal Constitution, underscores the importance of lawful detention and the protection of life and personal liberty.
In light of these serious concerns, we call upon the Government of Malaysia and the prison authorities to take immediate and effective action to:
i. Ensure an uninterrupted supply of clean water for drinking, bathing, toilet use and other essential hygiene needs;
ii. Provide adequate drinking water and proper sanitation facilities to all detained individuals;
iii. Inspect and improve food quality and hygiene standards, including the cleanliness of food trays and the nutritional adequacy of meals;
iv. Conduct an immediate inspection of the quarantine block at Kajang Prison and address any deficiencies in its facilities and water supply;
v. Implement a permanent solution to the longstanding water supply and quality issues at Kajang Prison, rather than relying on temporary measures; and
vi. Ensure that all accused persons can meet their legal representatives and provide instructions in dignified and hygienic conditions, without unnecessary obstacles to the preparation of their defence.
This is a call for the minimum standards of humanity, dignity and decency that must be afforded to every person in custody. The Government and prison authorities must not wait for these conditions to deteriorate further before taking action. The provision of adequate water, clean food and basic sanitation is not a privilege to be granted at the authorities’ discretion. It is a fundamental and constitutional necessity.
Issued by,
THIRUNA JAYSHAN
Outreach & Comms
Lawyers for Liberty