KLUANG: Despite her own health issues, a woman has stood by her husband of 40 years through three prison sentences related to drug offences.
The 60-year-old - known as Mak Nab - said she has never given up hope that her husband would one day change his ways.
"Despite repeated heartbreak, I continue to welcome him home with love and fresh hope. We've been married since 1985 and have six children and 14 grandchildren.
"This time, I'm praying with all my heart that he truly changes for the good and stops taking drugs because it has kept him away from our family," she added.
Mak Nab, who has stage four kidney disease, shared her thoughts at Kluang Prison during the Licensed Release of Prisoners (PBSL) programme on Tuesday (June 3), held in conjunction with the upcoming Hari Raya Aidiladha celebration.
Her husband is among 72 prisoners from Kluang Prison, including three females, allowed home detention under the PBSL initiative.
She admitted that life has been challenging, but she has never abandoned her responsibilities to her husband despite his repeated offences.
"My husband served time in Melaka Prison twice and now in Kluang Prison for drug offences. During his imprisonment, my children took me to stay with them in the Klang Valley.
"Now that he is out of prison, I ask for one thing: for him to change his life for good," she said.
Meanwhile, her husband - known as Pak Man, 73 - expressed regret and determination to break free from drugs once and for all.
"I am ashamed of myself and now realise how much I have lost. I miss my wife, children, and grandchildren," he said, adding that he was grateful to be chosen for the PBSL initiative.
He was incarcerated at Kluang Prison since February this year, with his original sentence set until December.
Having been in prison earlier this year, Pak Man missed the Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebrations, especially his wife's home-cooked meals.
"At night in prison, I would sit and reflect, and it was painful. All I want now is to live in peace with my wife and care for our small plantation," he said.
The PBSL initiative is for prisoners serving sentences of four years and below for petty crime, senior citizens above 70, and those 28 weeks pregnant.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail announced on March 2 that the government agreed to implement PBSL through home detention to reduce overcrowding in prisons.
