BAGAN DATUK, April 18 — A special prison specifically to house detainees under the Prevention of Crime Act (POCA) will be built in Bagan Datuk.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said construction of the prison had been approved by the Cabinet.

He said that currently the special prison for POCA detainees was located in Simpang Renggam, Johor.

"Currently the only such prison is located in Simpang Renggam and we will build another one for POCA detainees in Bagan Datuk.

"I do not intend to praise myself, but since I became the Home Minister, the crime rate (in this country) had fallen by 53 per cent...(and) that’s why I want the prison to be built here so that the rate can be reduced further,”he said in his speech in conjunction with his visit to the Teluk Buloh District Polling Centre (PDM) here today.

The Barisan Nasional (BN) manifesto which was launched by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak also stated that a 1,000-person capacity special prison for POCA detainees and detainees under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) would also be built. — Bernama