On 17 January 2025, more than 100 detainees at Taiping Prison were brutally assaulted by over 60 armed and masked prison officers in Dewan B. The following recounts the barbaric assault. 

 

Pre-Assault

​The violence was preceded by a peaceful sit-in by detainees appealing not to be transferred to Block E. The detainees were well aware that the particular block was a decrepit part of Taiping Prison. Some of them had lived there before and shared first-hand accounts of poor sanitation, dilapidated infrastructure, delayed requests for medications, and restrictions on recreation and bathing.

• “rosak”

• “banyak nyamuk”, “ada lipas dan tikus”

• “ubat akan lambat datang”

• “banjir” ketika hujan lebat

 
Having established the above, what the detainees were peacefully protesting for were simply basic rights, live in cells that are well-maintained (structurally sound and basic sanitary), not overcrowded (three instead of five detainees/cell), equal access to ‘keistimewaan’ (referring to the recreational and religious activities), and to shower without water rations.

Subsequently, there were at least three ‘negotiations’ between the prison officers and detainee-appointed representatives. In the first two ‘negotiations’ especially, officers responded vaguely and offered no decision, asking the detainees to wait as they consult with their higher-ups. However, indications and attempts to persuade the detainee-appointed representatives were claimed to be made as suggestive words such as ‘cepat-cepat jalan la, jangan kasi masalah’, ‘nanti sampai Block E, akan dapat aktiviti’ by an alleged UKP officer, which in hindsight, can be interpreted as a sign to quickly vacate the hall. Yet, as no resolution was given, the detainees sat in Dewan B in continued protest.

Shortly after, an officer had entered the hall and asked them to vacate it as it would be utilised for PPI (Program Pembangunan Insan), and claimed he would give everyone just a minute to move to Block E. At that time, the detainees were sitting on the floor (many without their shirts on), with some already getting on their feet and ready to leave the hall when detainees heard the banging of shields (including against the pillars of the block; ‘pukul besi tiang blok’) and loud proclamations by prison officers outside the hall. At most 30 seconds later, masked officers with shields entered the hall, surrounded the detainees in the hall on all sides, including along the sides and at the back of the hall, taking position and preparingthemselves to inflict a well-orchestrated assault onto the detainees later that afternoon
 

he detainees were ordered into a surrender position—tunduk, with their hands behind their heads. Despite having complied with the order, the detainees were still assaulted. Officers beat them using cota, rotan and kayu, kicked them, and dragged them out of the hall to the front of Block B. Detainees were handcuffed there and beaten, kicked, and walked over by officers while in the surrender position. They were also pepper sprayed.

 

The assault was not impulsive – it was long-awaited. Whilst being beaten up, one detainee recalled overhearing an officer say, “Kami tunggu lama untuk lesen ini.” While under assault, detainees were forced to apologise to the officers. Profanities such as “tahanan mahkamah tinggi semua anjing” and “babi” were hurled at them. 

 

“Tuan X pukul kita macam haiwan.” 

(Sir X hit us like animal)

 

The detainees were then forced to duck walk while handcuffed to Block C or Block E. An officer asked a detainee where his head injury was—and then deliberately sprayed pepper spray directly over the open wound. One detainee was beaten to the extent that he was left without pants. He only received clothing after arriving at Block E.  

 

One detainee was dragged across rough tarmac until his buttocks were severely bruised and abraded. Days later, he still could not stand during muster due to the extent of his injuries.

​

Lead-Up to the Assault

​The violence was preceded by a peaceful sit-in by detainees appealing not to be transferred to Block E. That particular block was widely known by the detainees to be a decrepit part of Taiping Prison. Some of them had lived there before and shared first-hand accounts of poor sanitation, dilapidated infrastructure and restrictions on recreation and bathing.

• “rosak”

• “banyak nyamuk”, “ada lipas dan tikus”

• “banjir” ketika hujan lebat

 

There were at least three ‘negotiations’ between the prison officers and detainee-appointed representatives. In the first two ‘negotiations’ especially, officers responded vaguely and offered no decision, asking the detainees to wait as they consult with their higher-ups. As tensions escalated and no resolution was given, the detainees sat in Dewan B in continued protest. Instead of a negotiated solution, they were instead met with coordinated violence later that afternoon.

​

After the Violence

Despite visible and often severe injuries, many detainees received inadequate medical attention immediately after the violence took place. Some received painkillers and gauze to dress their own wounds, without direct care from a medical assistant or doctor. Access to the prison clinic varied, with some detainees only receiving attention a day or several days later. Out of the 12 detainees who testified, at least two were sent to hospital on the same day for treatment. For other detainees, hospital treatment was delayed by one to two weeks.

 

Because of the intense pain caused by pepper spray exposure, detainees were unable to shower for two full days.

 

For two weeks, detainees did not have access to the clothing that they brought with them during the transfer, nor were they allowed visits and calls from their families. Families who attempted to visit within that period were informed that the detainees were under ‘quarantine’ following the prison transfer - a justification used to conceal the violence and obstruct outside scrutiny.