A total of 937 prisoners have been released under a special licence programme to mark Aidilfitri, with the Prisons Department aiming for 3,000 releases this year.
KAJANG: A total of 937 prisoners from 43 institutions nationwide were released today under the MADANI Yakin Licensed Prisoner Release (PBSL) programme in conjunction with Hari Raya Aidilfitri.
Selangor and Kuala Lumpur Prisons Director, Deputy Prisons Commissioner Aminon Adnan, said the group comprised 899 men and 38 women, with 406 placed with their families, 390 with employers, 137 in halfway houses, and four under non-governmental organisations.
“The Prisons Department is targeting the release of 3,000 prospects this year under PBSL, which indirectly helps reduce prison overcrowding and costs, as the daily expense of maintaining one inmate is about RM50,” he said at a PBSL event at Kajang Prison.
The PBSL programme is granted to inmates serving prison terms of not more than three years, vulnerable groups, and pregnant women with sentences of less than four years, who have undergone rehabilitation, demonstrated good behaviour, and have guarantors.
In Perlis, 22 inmates from the state Correctional Centre were given the opportunity to start a new life through the programme, according to its director Mohd Sabri Md Arshad.
He said all of them, who have less than six months remaining in their sentences, will undergo rehabilitation outside prison under the supervision of their respective employers in sectors such as car wash services, plantations, and agriculture.
During their employment, they will be monitored by District Parole Officers and receive salary scales and benefits similar to other workers.
In Kedah, 30 inmates were allowed to undergo rehabilitation outside prison, with 15 placed with employers and 15 returning to their families.
The release ceremony in the state was officiated by Kedah State Prisons Director Deputy Prisons Commissioner Charin Promwichit Chem at Pokok Sena Prison.
In Terengganu, Marang Prison Deputy Director Fandika Safruddin said 79 inmates were released, with 17 allowed to return to their families while 62 were placed in various job sectors including eateries, nurseries, workshops, and car wash centres.
He said most of those released were drug offenders serving prison sentences of less than three years, adding that the job placement enables them to readjust to life in the community after a long period of confinement.
The Sun Malaysia
