KOTA SAMARAHAN: The recovery programme of Malaysia’s 10-year-old parole system still needs to be improved.
According to Prison Commissioner Ibrisham Abdul Rahman, while the system as practised in countries like Australia and the United Kingdom was more comprehensive, what Malaysia had was still inadequate.
“They have been practising the system much earlier than us. We have had only 10 years, there is a lot more to be done to help prisoners on parole recover to be able to merge with the society at large,” the parole director and community service of the prison headquarters said.
Ibrisham, who was speaking at an outreach programme on parole and community service at SK (A) Ibnu Khaldun here yesterday, said what the system’s recovery programme needed most was a strategic partner to work together with the parole officer.
“Strategic partner meaning, the family, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), district officers and also employers, to support the prisoner on parole so that he could learn to merge into the society at large and be and feel accepted,” he said.
According to Ibrisham, some 1,008 prisoners in the state have been released under the Parole Order since the parole system started in 2008.
Meanwhile, state prison director Deputy Prison Commissioner Ajidin Salleh said the prison department would not grant parole to prisoners who could not do anything.
He said they had to show they were capable of some skills which was why the prison trained inmates to acquire basic living skills.
“Soon, we will introduce a basic skills training programme in welding and servicing of air-conditioners to 40 prisoners. Those who make the grade will be issued with certificates.
“It is our target that in this way the time they walk out as free men, they will be ready to generate income like everybody else and continue life as a responsible member of their community,” he said.
