RM4.50 to feed detainee in lock-up is unreasonable - Thanks Teresa for highlighting this..

How much is allocated for a detainee's meal in a police lock-up? RM5-80 was already low - but today it is revealed that it is only RM4-50.

Thanks to MP Teresa Kok - this fact has been highlighted in the media - and now Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department T. Murugiah is doing something about this..

Our Anwar was not just in a police lock-up...but also in prison, and I am certain that there are so many reforms needed there - BUT alas Anwar Ibrahim is no Teresa Kok. He was free and that was that. He was not at all interested in bringing reforms - I have not heard him lobbying for improvements...

Congrats Teresa Kok for highlighting this...

Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department T. Murugiah said he wanted to first determine if it was true that only RM5.80 was allocated for each detainee’s meals per day.

“If it is true, then it is definitely not enough especially with the price of goods going up. A detainee needs to have breakfast, lunch and dinner.

“Breakfast would cost you at least RM2.50, while a good lunch would be a minimum RM3.50 and dinner RM3.50,” he told a press conference here on Sunday. - Star, 21/9/2008- RM5.80 a day not enough for meals, says Murugiah

But now, it is revealed that the allocation for food and drink for a detainee in a lock-up is only RM4-50...

A Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department was shocked to learn that only RM4.50 per day is allocated for food to each detainee in the lock-up.

T. Murugiah said this was ridiculous, especially with the increase in the price of rice, petrol and other items.

The RM4.50 covers breakfast (60 sen), lunch (RM2) and dinner (RM1.90).

Murugiah said the allocation should be raised so that detainees could get decent food.

“A normal human being living in the city spends at least RM10 on meals a day,” he said after visiting the Travers police station here yesterday.

He visited the police station following complaints by Seputeh MP Teresa Kok about the food she was served during her detention under the Internal Security Act (ISA).

“Detainees should be treated with respect and given proper food,” said Murugiah. - Star, 23/9/2008 -A mere RM4.50 a day for meals

It is good that the Deputy Minister is looking into this now BUT we expect government to be on top of things like this always..

Remember when Abdullah Ahmad Badawi caused the price of fuel in Malaysia rise - it did affect the cost of food, and now we need to look at increasing the allocation for food also in the prisons, detention camps, etc...