MP Hears Concerns at Sinabang Prison on Simeulue Island

Banda Aceh (ANTARA) – Indonesian MP Muslim Ayub visited Sinabang Class III Prison in Simeulue Regency, Aceh, to hear concerns and complaints about conditions at the facility.

“Our visit is not only to hear concerns, but also to ensure inmates’ basic rights are met, including access to clean water, healthcare and rehabilitation facilities,” Muslim Ayub said in Simeulue on Wednesday.

During the visit, Ayub inspected the prison’s main facilities, including inmate accommodation blocks, sanitation facilities, the communal kitchen and healthcare services.

The MP, who represents Aceh I constituency, said inmates at Sinabang Prison must receive proper and fair services, without discrimination.

He said prisons should provide a humane, safe and productive environment for rehabilitation, giving inmates positive skills and support before they return to society.

Ayub said he would bring the issues raised during his visit to a meeting with his counterparts in the House of Representatives, including the Coordinating Ministry for Law, Human Rights, Immigration and Corrections.

“We urge the ministry to ensure more equitable access to basic healthcare, particularly the availability of medical personnel in prisons in island regions such as Sinabang,” he said.

Meanwhile, Sinabang Class III Prison head Nazaryadi outlined a number of challenges to Ayub, a member of the House of Representatives’ Commission XIII.

“The main challenges at present are limited access to clean water and a shortage of medical staff. We still rely on water drawn directly from the river. The prison also has no medical personnel, such as a doctor,” he said.

Nazaryadi said clean water and healthcare staff were essential, as they were basic needs for inmates.

“We hope our proposals will receive attention, so that our needs can be met and rehabilitation programmes for inmates at this prison can run effectively,” he said.

Nazaryadi added that Sinabang Class III Prison runs several programmes for its hundreds of inmates, including religious activities and gardening.

The gardening programme, he said, supports food security by making use of land within the prison. Produce from the garden can help meet the needs of the inmates’ kitchen.

“We also provide religious guidance. Every inmate is required to attend one hour of Qur’an-reading lessons each day,” Nazaryadi said.

Simeulue Regency is an outer-island region of Aceh. Simeulue Island lies in the Indian Ocean, about 180 nautical miles off the west coast of Sumatra.

Simeulue Regency was formed from West Aceh Regency in 1999. It has 10 districts and 138 gampong, or villages, with a population of around 96,000.