Bidor breakout: Info from public needed to find 28 escapees still at large, says Saifuddin

KUALA LUMPUR: The authorities are relying on tip-offs from the public to find the remaining 28 detainees who escaped from the Bidor Temporary Immigration Depot in Perak on Feb 1.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said that of the 131 who escaped, 101 have been arrested while two others died in road accidents.

“We have halted roadblocks and operations within the search radius.

“The search now will be based on information from the public,” he told reporters after visiting the General Operations Force (GOF) Central Brigade Headquarters in Cheras on Friday (Feb 16).

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Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain and Bukit Aman Logistics Department director Datuk Seri Sahabudin Abd Manan also attended the visit.

Saifuddin said the Immigration Depot was previously a National Service centre and there were some shortcomings.

“Those detainees who have been recaptured have been placed at another location and a decision is being made as to whether or not the depot can still be used as a place of detention.

“Investigations are still ongoing to find out who is the mastermind behind the riot there (that led to the breakout),” he said.

It was reported that a total of 131 Rohingya and Myanmar detainees at a temporary immigration detention centre in Bidor escaped after a riot broke out at the centre.

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They comprised 115 Rohingya and 16 Myanmar nationals, all men.

The case is being investigated under Sections 147, 223 and 224 of the Penal Code.

Meanwhile, on the issue of a salary review for police personnel, Saifuddin said it was in process.

“The salary review element has been included in discussions chaired by the Public Services director-general,” he said.