Wallace (right) invites Fatimah to the event as Danggat (left) looks on.
KUCHING: The Puncak Borneo Prison will run a ‘Bacalah-Kamu Masih Di Hati’ programme to inculcate the reading habit in inmates.
The programme, to be held this Nov 28, also aims to stimulate the minds of inmates through knowledge in the hope of making them better people as part of the rehabilitation process.
Prison assistant commissioner Wallace Nawon said: “We hope through this initiative, the prison could strengthen its correctional level by exposing inmates to knowledge, regardless of their age.”
He was met by reporters after visiting Welfare, Women and Family Development Minister Datuk Fatimah Abdullah at her office yesterday.
Nawon said 11 students were studying in Integrity School within the prison, out of whom seven would be sitting
for the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination this year. Currently the prison holds 565 inmates.
“We hope the programme would assist those studying in Integrity School, especially in subjects related to reading,” he said.
Earlier Fatimah said the programme came at the right time in line with the prison’s aim to rehabilitate and give a second chance to inmates.
“It indirectly helps inmates identify their skills and knowledge ability which will help them know their direction after leaving prison,” she said.
She said Integrity School was a good venue as it ensured that juvenile inmates would not be left out in education.
Apart from offering sewing, cooking and technical classes, teachers for the Integrity School were professionals assigned by the Education Ministry.
The programme done in collaboration with Pustaka Negara Malaysia (PNM) will also feature other activities, the highlight being a motivational speech by national astronaut Datuk Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor.
Among those present yesterday was teacher Danggat Chabo from Sekolah Integrity Penjara Puncak Borneo.