Confirming this, the Prisons Department in a letter to the home minister and prime minister however denied that the solitary confinement was in a "dark room" as Uthayakumar had claimed.
"He
was not placed in a dark room as the Kajang Prison or any prison in
Malaysia does not have dark rooms," states the letter which was read out
by Deputy Home Minister Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar (left) while winding up the Prison (Amendment) Bill debate in Parliament yesterday.The solitary confinement room also has a mattress, blanket and toilet, just like other cell and Uthayakumar was given the same food as other prisoners.
The letter also says that while Uthayakumar was in solitary confinement on Oct 13, he was visited by his clerk and lawyer M Manoharan.
The letter also painted Uthayakumar as a recalcitrant prisoner who "often did not take instructions" and caused "tense situations" with the prison staff.
However, the Prisons Department said that the staff never treated him harshly and there was "no abuse" of the prisoner.
'MRI scan done'
The letter added that Uthayakumar, like other diabetic inmates, was being supplied with bread and vegetables instead of rice, as advised by the prison nutritionist.
He was reportedly sent for an MRI scan at Hospital Ampang for his bad back, caused by a prolapsed disc, on Oct 2 and a follow-up appointment has been set for next month.
Treatment has been administered by Hospital Kajang and has been approved by the Health Ministry deputy director-general, said the Prisons Department.
Uthayakumar, who is serving his 30-month sentence for sedition, has complained that he is being tortured, made to sleep on the floor and treated badly.
His open letter to the prime minister was read out by Gobind Singh Deo (DAP-Puchong) during the debate in the Dewan Rakyat at the same sitting.
Meanwhile, the Prisons (Amendment) Bill to add more lock-ups was passed, by a voice vote, without any change.
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