KOTA KINABALU: Give ex-convicts a chance to make a better life for themselves outside prison walls, urged the Sabah's Board of Visiting Justices.
Its chairman Datuk Katherin Lee said while efforts were being done to create more awareness on this matter, the fact is that there are still many challenges for these people to get back into the community due to stigma.
She said this applies also to those who are released on licence, meaning those that are still serving their jail sentence but, outside, with restrictions and regulations in place.
“We see many who are released under licence are facing tough times trying to secure jobs, places to live and to readjust to life in the community,” she said in a statement after paying a courtesy call to the Yang di-Pertua Negeri Sabah Tun Musa Aman, Thursday (Feb 20).
There are also many whose families have disowned them, making it even harder for these people to move on and try to be better in life, Lee said.
She said other than families, private and government sectors can consider playing bigger roles in hiring ex-convicts so that at least, they have a chance to turn over a new leave, rebuild their lives and never have to sort to criminal acts anymore.
“We want these people to contribute to the society, country and their family,” she stressed.
Lee suggested some form of incentive programme to be introduced and enforced here, just like the one in Singapore where employers who hire former inmates get incentives and salary subsidies.
This method has proven to work and she hopes Sabah can emulate such a working model.
Also present were board members Dr Christopher Chu, Datuk Wahab Sulaiman, Datuk Chew Kok Woh, Jiniti Baku, John Ho Nyuk Lin and Sarnoh Lasoh.
