Celebrating 235 Years Of Correctional History, From Fort Cornwallis To Modern Prisons
By Erma Idayu Mohd Yusop
GEORGE TOWN, May 15 (Bernama) -- To enhance public understanding of the nation's correctional history and evolution, this year's 235th Prison Day celebration emphasises the establishment of Malaysia's first modern prison.
The first modern prison was set up in 1790 at Fort Cornwallis here during the British colonial era, making it significant in the history of the nation's correctional institutions.
In an exclusive interview with Bernama, Penang Prison director Abd Rauf Lang Pasif said the prison was regarded as modern for its time because of its structured and organised administrative system and that it represented a significant shift from the traditional methods of incarceration used previously.
"Historical records indicate that Malaysia's modern prison system began with the arrival of two prisoners from India. Subsequently, the prisoner population grew as inmates from Sumatra were brought in to help construct the prison and its supporting infrastructure in Penang.
"Two men, Eyeno Deen Sheikdan (also known as Ainuddin Sheidan) and Mohamed Heiant, were brought from Bengal, India, by the British for incarceration. This made them the first two prisoners in Malaysia, marking the beginning of modern prisons in the country," he said.
Abd Rauf said the prisoners were used as cheap labour to build infrastructure and support economic activities and that a second prison was later built at Chowrasta Lines.
However, he said a new facility known as Penang Gold was built and began operations in 1849 due to overcrowding, and it still exists today as the Penang Remand Prison.
"This year, Penang was selected as the host location for the 235th Prison Day celebration for several reasons. One being that the first modern prison was established in this state. Additionally, this choice aligns with our theme, "Peradaban Manusiawi Perkukuh Masyarakat MADANI."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Sinar Daily
2 hours ago
- Sinar Daily
Tragedy that kills 15 UPSI students, deadliest crash in over a decade
Preliminary investigations revealed that the bus, driven by a substitute driver from another bus company, collided with the MPV before overturning. 09 Jun 2025 08:25pm The crash marks the worst in over a decade after the express bus incident in Genting Highlands on Aug 21, 2013, when the bus, carrying 53 passengers, veered off the road and plunged into a 60-metre ravine at Kilometre 3.5 of Jalan Genting. - Bernama photo KUALA LUMPUR - An early morning fatal accident involving a bus carrying Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) students and a multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) along the East-West Highway near Tasik Banding in Gerik shook the nation. The crash, which is believed to have occurred between 12.30 am and 1 am, killed 15 students and left 27 other students, the bus driver and his assistant, as well as three passengers of the MPV, injured. The crash marks the worst in over a decade after the express bus incident in Genting Highlands on Aug 21, 2013, when the bus, carrying 53 passengers, veered off the road and plunged into a 60-metre ravine at Kilometre 3.5 of Jalan Genting. - Bernama photo Preliminary investigations revealed that the bus, driven by a substitute driver from another bus company, collided with the MPV before overturning. The bus is also believed to have been travelling at an excessive speed, based on victims' accounts. The crash marks the worst in over a decade after the express bus incident in Genting Highlands on Aug 21, 2013, when the bus, carrying 53 passengers, veered off the road and plunged into a 60-metre ravine at Kilometre 3.5 of Jalan Genting. Thirty-seven lives were lost, and 16 others were injured in the crash, deemed the most devastating bus tragedy in the nation's history. Today's accident reopens the wounds of past tragedies that claimed numerous lives. On Dec 20, 2010, another tragic incident occurred at Kilometre 15 on the Cameron Highlands-Simpang Pulai Road, involving a tour bus carrying Thai tourists. The bus allegedly lost control, collided with the road divider, then veered into the opposite lane and overturned into a ditch. Twenty-seven people perished, the majority of whom were foreign tourists, while several others sustained serious injuries. Three years prior, on Aug 13, 2007, a total of 20 passengers were killed and nine others critically injured after the express bus they were traveling in lost control and overturned at Kilometre 229 on the North-South Expressway (PLUS) near Bukit Gantang, Perak. Here is a chronology of some of the deadliest bus crashes in Malaysia since 2003. Nov 23, 2003 -- 14 killed and 30 injured when two buses collided at Kilometre 68 on the Lipis-Merapoh Road near the Pahang-Kelantan border. April 13, 2009 -- Six died when a double-decker express bus lost control, collided with the road divider, and overturned at Kilometre 443 on the PLUS highway near Rawang, Selangor. Dec 26, 2009 -- Ten passengers were killed and two others injured, including one critically, when a double-decker bus lost control and collided with the road divider at Kilometre 272.8 on the northbound PLUS highway, near the Ipoh Selatan Toll Plaza in Ipoh, Perak. Oct 29, 2010 -- Six died, and 21 were injured after a tour bus lost control and overturned at Kilometre 3.8 Genting Sempah on its way down from Genting Highlands. Oct 10, 2010 -- 12 killed and more than 40 injured in a collision involving two buses, a van, and three cars at Kilometre 223 on PLUS highway near the Simpang Ampat toll plaza in Alor Gajah, Melaka. Dec 24, 2016 -- 14 perished and 16 others were injured when an express bus plunged down a 10-metre slope at Kilometre 137.3 on PLUS highway northbound near the Pagoh Rest and Recreation Area in Johor. - BERNAMA
New Straits Times
3 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Gerik crash: Terengganu govt to cover funeral for 15 UPSI students
KUALA TERENGGANU: The Terengganu state government will fully bear the funeral costs for the 15 victims of the fatal bus accident on the East-West Highway (JRTB), near Tasik Banding, Gerik, early this morning. State Welfare, Women's Development, Family, and National Unity Committee chairman Maliaman Kassim said the state government will also provide logistical support to the victims' families who are at the hospital. Additionally, he stated that a psychosocial team will be assigned to assist family members facing trauma or grief due to the incident. "Indeed, the passing of these students is a great loss not only to their families but also to Terengganu, which is very proud of the achievements and spirit of its youth in pursuing knowledge. "For the families, we will provide counseling services and immediate assistance to help them cope with difficult moments like today," he said in a statement today. In the incident that occurred between 12.30am and 1am, 15 UPSI students died when a chartered bus traveling from Jerteh to Tanjung Malim, Perak, overturned after being involved in an accident with a Perodua Alza multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) on the JRTB, near Tasik Banding, Perak. The accident also resulted in 33 others being injured, including the bus driver and second driver, as well as the Perodua Alza driver and three passengers. – Bernama
Barnama
4 hours ago
- Barnama
UPSI Bus Crash: Post-mortem On 15 Fatal Crash Victims Completed After 17 Hours, Six Identified
GENERAL KUALA LUMPUR, June 9 (Bernama) -- Seventeen hours after the fatal crash involving a bus carrying Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) students shocked the nation early today, post-mortem examinations on the 15 victims have been completed, with the identities of six individuals officially confirmed. As of 5.30 pm today, the identified victims are Sufea Adela Maslihaizan, 21; Mohammad Aqil Taqiudin, 21; Anis Soffiyya Md Zaidi, 20; Nur Ainul Qistina Mat Ali, 21; Muhammad Adib Hazim Halim, 21; and Wan Nur Suhaila Wan Muhammad, 22. The information was conveyed by Perak Police chief Datuk Noor Hisam Nordin to reporters at the Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital (HRPB) in Ipoh, Perak, this evening. Earlier, post-mortem procedures on the bodies of Muhammad Adib Hazim and Wan Nur Suhaila were conducted at Gerik Hospital, Hulu Perak, while the remaining 13 were examined at the HRPB Forensic Department. Previously, Perak Health director Dr Feisul Idzwan Mustapha said three forensic teams were assigned to conduct the autopsies, which were expected to be completed by midnight due to the condition of the bodies and the identification process by the families. The heartbreaking incident at KM53 of the East-West Highway (JRTB) in Banun, near Tasik Banding, Gerik, Perak, occurred between 12.30 am and 1 am, when a chartered bus carrying students from the UPSI Tanjung Malim campus overturned after reportedly hitting the rear of a Perodua Alza multipurpose vehicle (MPV). The bus, carrying 42 students aged between 21 and 23 who were returning to campus after the Aidiladha break, had departed from Jertih, Terengganu, at 9 pm. In a related development, Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri assured that psychosocial support, counselling, and other necessary aid would be immediately provided to the families of the deceased. She said officers from the Social Welfare Department (JKM) would be mobilised to assist the families, particularly in managing their emotional wellbeing and welfare needs.
