KAJANG: The Home Ministry will expand its community rehabilitation programme to five more army camps with the cooperation of the Prisons Department and Malaysian Armed Forces.
Its minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi yesterday said this followed the 100 per cent success of inmates released or ‘orang diselia’ – ODS (persons under supervision) from the five existing rehabilitation centres in not becoming repeat offenders.
“This (expansion effort) will begin with the Kota Belud camp soon,” he said at a press conference after his first visit to the Kajang Prison, here, since being appointed Home Minister.
Also present were his deputy Datuk Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar and Prisons Department director-general Datuk Seri Zulkifli Omar.
Ahmad Zahid said the community rehabilitation programme was part of the National Blue Ocean Strategy between the Prisons Department and other agencies under the Home Ministry and other ministries aimed at reducing repeat offenders.
“I would like give a human face to the Prisons Department as I don’t it to be only carrying out court sentences.”
He said among the efforts taken towards reducing repeat offenders were providing career development, entrepreneurial and skills training courses, start-up capital for business and opportunities for further studies for the ODS.
“To date, 88 ODS are taking up diploma or degree courses and I will ensure that more of them will pursue tertiary studies.
“As for business capital assistance for former prisoners, we receive cooperation from Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia and Tekun, and I will also discuss with Permodalan Nasional Berhad on this so that it too can help and provide entrepreneurial training,” he said.
Ahmad Zahid noted that the ministry also planned to establish a prisons’ medical system to enable prisoners with health cases to be treated in the prisons.
He also said that all 43 prison complexes in the country would be upgraded, with Sabah to be given priority as the prisons there had exceeded their capacity.
“We will also be upgrading the prisons’ electronic safety system without involving a huge additional cost for the government as we will rely more on internal funding.”
Ahmad Zahid expressed confidence that the Prisons Department would fully meet its Key Performance Indicators (KPI) soon. — Bernama