Drugs ‘Getting Through’ in Custody: Prisons Department Denies Yasin Sulaiman’s Claims

KOTA BHARU: The Malaysian Prisons Department has denied claims by singer and composer Muhammad Yasin Sulaiman that inmates can easily obtain drugs while serving their sentences behind bars.

Senior Director of the Prison Policy Division, Prison Commissioner Mohamad Rosidek Musa, said the department has strict standard operating procedures (SOPs) and regulations to control the entry and circulation of prohibited substances within prison institutions.

He said the Prisons Department continuously strives to curb negative activities, including misconduct among inmates, through security controls and rehabilitation programmes.

“We acknowledge that certain things may happen, but not to the extent as alleged,” he told a press conference on Monday.

Earlier, he officiated the closing ceremony of the Malaysian Prisons Department’s 2026 Bookathon Programme, organised in collaboration with Boustead Holdings Berhad, Royale Chulan Damansara and SMO Bookstores, at the Women’s Block of Pengkalan Chepa Prison here.

The media had earlier reported that Muhammad Yasin claimed drugs were still finding their way into prisons despite stringent security checks on newly admitted inmates.

According to Yasin, he was ordered to remove his clothes and undergo repeated searches upon arriving at Sungai Buloh Prison, but claimed that such measures were still unable to prevent drugs from circulating within the prison.

He said in a podcast that there were indeed a lot of drugs in prison despite all the SOPs being in place.

Elaborating, Mohamad Rosidek stressed that the Prisons Department focuses not only on security and control but also on rehabilitation efforts to address negative activities that could affect inmates.

“In the prison context, we focus on rehabilitation programmes. We will try to address the negative issues occurring in prisons,” he said.

He said any misconduct detected would be addressed and appropriate action taken in accordance with established regulations.

Mohamad Rosidek said SOPs related to prison security and management are also reviewed in stages to ensure continuous improvement.

“The Prisons Department strives to ensure that negative activities, misconduct and other issues are addressed and appropriate action is taken.

“Every year, we will try to tighten the SOPs and review them progressively,” he said.

Sinar Harian