{
  "id": 8880127,
  "title": "Prisons dept denies claims prison life depends on money, influence",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/21/prisons-dept-denies-claims-prison-life-depends-on-money-influence",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-21T07:39:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2026/09/21/prisons-denies-claims-prison-life-depends-on-money-influence"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The prisons department has dismissed accusations from singer-composer Yasin Sulaiman that prison life hinges on financial resources and influence. Rosidek Musa, the senior director of prison policy, clarified that while certain incidents may occur, the extent alleged by Sulaiman is inaccurate. The department maintains standard operating procedures (SOPs) to manage misconduct and negative occurrences among inmates, focusing on rehabilitation programs instead. Sulaiman claimed during a podcast that a ranking system, including \"boss\" and \"taiko\" groups, exists among inmates, and that money and influence can facilitate drug smuggling into prisons. However, Musa emphasized that the department consistently reviews and updates its SOPs annually. Overcrowding at Pengkalan Chepa prison, where the closing ceremony of the 2026 prisons department bookathon programme was held, continues to be a challenge, and measures are being implemented to address this issue. The bookathon programme donated 10,000 books to inmates across the country, with the exception of Sabah and Sarawak.",
  "summary": "Prisons department senior director of prison policy Rosidek Musa says existing SOPs are able to handle misconduct or negative incidents among inmates.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "New Straits Times",
        "title": "Prisons dept denies Yasin's claims of money, influence determining prison life",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/21/prisons-dept-denies-yasins-claims-of-money-influence-determining",
        "published": "2026-09-21T06:32:02.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Prisons dept denies claims prison life depends on money, influence",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/21/prisons-dept-denies-claims-prison-life-depends-on-money-influence-8881612",
        "published": "2026-09-21T07:39:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}