SIBU: A total of 1,274 persons were imprisoned for drug and substance abuse activities in the state in 2021, said Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah.
The Minister for Women, Early Childhood, and Community Wellbeing Development said that due to the huge number recorded, several integrated programmes have been implemented to address drug and substance Issues at the State and District levels.
“These programmes are important to reduce recidivism rate among those released from the prisons,” she said at a Licensed Inmates Release Outreach Programme (PBSL) 2022 yesterday (Sept 20).
Fatimah said the issue of drug and substance abuse was given priority because of its connection with other social issues such as property crime (between 40 – 80%); domestic violence (52%); family problems (10%); and teenage pregnancy (3%).
“In order to provide empowerment support to prisoners and ex-prisoners, Sarawak Social Development Council (SDC) is spearheading several integrated programmes through the One Stop Centre (OSC) to address drug and substance Issues at the State and District levels from August 2018,” she said.
The minister stressed that SDC was establishing close collaboration with the Prison Department to implement the Empowerment Programme for prisoners and ex-offenders of drug and substance abuse in Sarawak in collaboration with the anti-drug agency.
“Hopefully through such collaboration, we will be able to reduce the recidivism rate in Sarawak which is the lowest in Malaysia.” Fatimah noted that the recidivism rate in Sarawak is at 98 out of 100,000 residents – the lowest in the nation and among the lowest in the world.
“For the month of January until August 2022, the admission rate of recidivism shows 3.54 per cent,” she said.
On the PBSL, Fatimah said it provides prisoners a second chance and is also a privilege granted to deserving prisoners for reasons such as strengthening family ties, finding job opportunities, planning for the future and other matters deemed appropriate by the Commissioner General of Prisons.
“PBSL also aims to reduce overcrowding in prisons and provide relief to prisoners to serve their prison sentences outside the confines of prisons and follow community rehabilitation programmes,” she explained.
