KUALA LUMPUR: Kota Melaka MP Khoo Poay Tiong has called for all Members of Parliament to be allowed to view closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage of the assaults on inmates at Taiping Prison that left one man dead and several others injured in January 2025.
The incident, which occurred on Jan 17, 2025, resulted in the death of an inmate, Gan Chin Eng, 62. Several others were also injured.
Twentytwo13 was the first to report the incident that led to Gan’s death. He reportedly sustained an “abdominal injury caused by blunt trauma” and died after being rushed to Taiping Hospital.
Khoo, who is also vice-chairman of the Special Select Committee on Human Rights, Election and Institutional Reform, claimed that the footage, if shown to MPs, would prove there was no riot by the prisoners, contrary to claims by the Prison Department.
“Members of the committee have viewed the footage. It is chilling. Anyone unaware of what they were watching might think it was a Hong Kong film,” Khoo told the Dewan Rakyat today.
“You might think it was a scene from a film, but it actually happened at Taiping Prison.
“The prison officials claimed there was a riot, but if you watch the footage, you will see there was no riot. Every Member of Parliament should see it so that we can move forward with institutional reforms (for prisons),” he said.
Khoo was responding to Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) M. Kulasegaran, who said the government was, in principle, prepared to allow all Members of Parliament to view the footage, following suggestions by several MPs, including Khoo and Jelutong MP RSN Rayer, that it be screened in Parliament.
“In principle, I agree that Members of Parliament should be given access to the footage so they can exercise proper oversight and carry out their responsibilities effectively,” said Kulasegaran.
“However, the proposal requires further discussion, including consideration of the legal implications and whether the matter is sub judice in relation to the ongoing case.
“We will also consider any other relevant matters. Further discussions will be held before a final decision is made,” he said.
Kulasegaran, who has also viewed the footage, agreed with Khoo that the matter should be treated as a priority.
“This (incident) is not a Hong Kong film. It happened on Malaysian soil. Action must be taken over this matter,” said Kulasegaran.
“Members of Parliament should be allowed to view the footage, as there is no longer any reason for it to remain secret.
“I am astonished that this happened, and I hope the Cabinet will make a decision on the matter as soon as possible, so that Members of Parliament can view the footage, perhaps as early as next week.”
Kulasegaran also thanked the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) for its swift action in investigating the incident, which has led to six Taiping Prison personnel being charged in court.
Khoo also expressed his appreciation to Suhakam and asked whether the government would support strengthening the commission’s statutory powers by granting it unrestricted access to detention facilities and official documents without prior notice, enabling it to carry out monitoring and investigations more effectively.
“Countries such as the Philippines already grant their human rights commissioners this level of access,” said Kulasegaran.
“The proposal to grant Suhakam commissioners unrestricted access is not new, and discussions are ongoing.
“I hope a final decision on this matter can be made as soon as possible.”
Granting unrestricted access to detention facilities and official documents without prior notice was among Suhakam’s recommendations following its public inquiry into the incident at Taiping Prison.
The recommendations stem from Suhakam’s public inquiry into the death of Gan, who reportedly suffered abdominal injuries caused by blunt trauma and died after being taken to Taiping Hospital.
The public hearings were held at the Kamunting Correctional Centre in Taiping, Perak, and Suhakam’s headquarters in Kuala Lumpur between June 9 and Sept 22. A total of 50 witnesses testified.
Lawyer T. Shashi Devan, who is representing the families of 99 detainees, including Gan, welcomes the call to allow Members of Parliament to view the footage.
“However, transparency should not end there. Lawyers, civil society organisations, and members of the media should also be granted access to ensure there is independent scrutiny and that the recommendations and guidelines set out by Suhakam are properly implemented,” Shashi told Twentytwo13.
“I also welcome the government’s indication that it is considering granting Suhakam unrestricted access to places of detention. Such a move would strengthen the commission’s ability to carry out independent inspections and investigations, which have too often been constrained by legislative limitations and a lack of political will.”
He added that Suhakam has been described as a “toothless tiger”.
“However, with stronger legal powers, greater institutional independence and the resources necessary to carry out its mandate effectively, Suhakam can play a far more meaningful role in safeguarding human rights in Malaysia,” he said.
On July 3, five Taiping Prison wardens were charged in two separate magistrates’ courts in Taiping with voluntarily causing injuries to three inmates in January 2025.
On Dec 19, 2025, prison warden Ryndee O’Nel Victor was charged before the Taiping Magistrates’ Court with causing the death of Gan. He was charged under Section 304(b) of the Penal Code with culpable homicide not amounting to murder.
Ryndee, faces up to 10 years’ imprisonment, or a fine, or both, if convicted.
