The government is prepared to look into a proposal to set up private prisons to address the overcrowding problem in Malaysian prisons, said Deputy Home Minister Mohd Azis Jamman.

To date, he said, about 74,000 inmates are undergoing their prison sentence nationwide, but the actual capacity is about 52,000 inmates.

"Given the current financial pressures, maybe we can study and consider establishing private prisons as implemented in the UK," he told reporters after closing the Prison Reform Colloquium at the Malaysian Prisons Department headquarters in Kajang today.

Azis said he was given the opportunity to experience the operation of a private prison during his recent visit to the UK, and it did not require the government to build a new prison.

He added that the matter would be handed over to the Prisons Department to conduct research on various aspects before submitting the findings to the ministry.

Azis said if implemented, the prison would house inmates who are being sentenced for minor offences.

Meanwhile, he said three prisons namely in Pengkalan Chepa, Kelantan; Batu Gajah, Perak and Seremban, Negeri Sembilan would be upgraded beginning next year.

"The structure of the buildings is very old and we will get the allocation [...] if possible for next year," he said. - Bernama