KUALA LUMPUR: All prison blankets will be hemmed to prevent them from being used by prisoners to hang themselves.

On Monday, Kee Lian Kok, 29, the accused in the murder of 7-year-old Ho Ping, whose body was found in a bag in a river in Perak two years ago, committed suicide in his cell. He tore up his blanket to make strips to hang himself.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar, who visited Sungai Buloh Prison yesterday, said other steps would also be taken to prevent untoward incidents.




On Sunday, C. Uthayachandran, 23, in prison pending trial for a drug case next month, was killed in a fight that broke out among several inmates.



Syed Hamid described the two incidents as isolated. The last prison fight occurred 10 years ago, while the last suicide was in 2004.



To improve security, the minister said 2,000 more staff were required. Currently, the Prisons Department has 14,000 employees.





Syed Hamid added that prison facilities also had to be improved.

He cited Sungai Buloh Prison which was housing 5,600 inmates although its capacity was only 2,000.