Malaysia aims to cut prison occupancy by two-thirds in eight years

Prisons director-general Datuk Nordin Muhamad.

NEW DELHI: Malaysia aims to cut prison occupancy rate by two-thirds in the next eight years by relying more on community corrections, says Prisons Department Commissioner-General Datuk Nordin Muhamad (pic).

"By 2030, two-thirds of convicted prisoners should undergo community corrections. Correctional facilities are meant for those involved in serious crimes," he said in an interview here recently.

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The greater focus on community corrections is part of the nation's objective to reduce prison population and improve rehabilitation of those convicted of non-serious offences.

Statistics show that about 30% of the crimes committed in Malaysia are of a serious and violent nature.

Nordin said the recidivism rate among former inmates who did not have rehabilitation opportunities outside prison was 15%, compared with just 0.38% of those who underwent community corrections.

"Our focus... on community corrections (is) so that we can reduce recidivism," he said.

In order to protect the communities better, the idea should be to move from retributive to restorative justice, he added.

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Malaysian prison facilities at present hold about 76,000 inmates against a capacity of 66,000.

The Prisons Department's rehabilitation and resettlement initiatives include job attachment schemes in which companies offer employment and accommodation to eligible inmates under the supervision of prison officials.

At present, about 5,000 prisoners are enrolled in job schemes with various companies.

"We can reach 10,000 by next year. The government will be able to cut its monthly expenditure by RM500 per inmate," Nordin said.

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On healthcare facilities for prisoners, he said the basic services are almost similar to those available outside but the Prisons Department has been looking at improving access to specialist care.

During his visit to New Delhi last week, he toured the Indian capital's massive Tihar jail and exchanged views with Delhi Prisons director-general Sandeep Goel on issues such as inmate management and rehabilitation.

Nordin said Malaysia and India were ready to share best practices in prison management.

"Indian officers may come to the Correctional Academy of Malaysia in Langkawi for training and Malaysian officers can also be attached to Indian prisons to learn and experience their work and procedures in the area of dynamic security," he added. – Bernama