Hire ex-inmates to reduce dependency on foreign labour, Sabah firms told

KOTA KINABALU: Companies in Sabah facing hiring difficulties have been urged to give former convicts and parolees a chance to fill the vacancies as a way to reduce dependency on foreign labour.

Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Dr Joachim Gunsalam, who is state Industrial Development Minister, said those leaving prison on parole or licensed release are Malaysians.

To lead by example, he said he would try to find jobs within his ministry for former inmates.

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“This is based on the success of programmes to release ex-inmates back into the community implemented by the Prisons Department,” he said when launching the department's outreach programme with employers involved in Corporate Smart Internship (CSI) on Friday (July 29).

“I will instruct my officers to follow up.

“I urge the Sabah Prisons Department to hold a meeting with all corporate companies under my ministry’s purview to get further details,” he added.

He also proposed that products made by prisoners in their workshops, including food, are sold at small and medium enterprises (SME) centres close to prisons.

“We have SME centres in Kota Kinabalu, Beaufort, Papar and Ranau.

“In future, we will also have centres at Kota Marudu, Tuaran, Tawau and Keningau.

“If permitted, we will invite the Prisons Department to showcase the products made by inmates in expos that my ministry organises,” he added.

Gunsalam noted that since 2008, Sabah has released 3,885 inmates into the community through its parole programme.

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He commended the Prisons Department for its rehabilitation programmes to allow ex-inmates to re-enter the community and for efforts to reduce the stigma against them.

At present, 11 CSI companies and 20 small businesses have collaborated with the department to provide employment to ex-inmates.

“I was even told that an ex-inmate, who was also helped through this ‘outside the walls’ rehabilitation programme, was able to set up a company.

“The state government, through my ministry, is here to assist in terms of guidance for the former inmates to start their own business as entrepreneurs in various sectors,” Gunsalam added.