‘Prisoner rehab schemes must be done properly’

PETALING JAYA: Rehabilitation programmes for prisoners in the country will allow smooth integration of their return to the community and strengthen family ties, say human rights experts.

Human Rights Commission of Malaysia commissioner Ragunath Kesavan said the rehabilitation programmes within the community, or PDK, is conceptually good and progressive.

“We should support this programme as it is part of prison reform,” he said.

Ragunath added that the programme would help reduce the prison population, while helping with the integration and rehabilitation of prisoners into the community.

“Prisoners can be back with their families and this helps the family’s overall support system as they can work and assist their families,” he said, adding that there would also be less breakdown in families.

In terms of concerns with abuse or discrimination, Ragunath said there was a need for proper regulations to the programme.

“We need to ensure rules and regulations are transparent,” he said.

North-South Initiative executive director and co-founder Adrian Pereira said there must be clear criteria on the eligible inmates for the rehabilitation programmes in order to give every prison inmate a fair chance to return to society.

The home detention for prison inmates, he said should also be implemented in a dignifying and empathic manner, especially on how the inmates are monitored.

“Some proposals to use the ankle monitors may not be very dignifying.

“More discussion and community engagements are needed and we need more clarity on how this will be done so that it is not done in an undignified manner,” he said.