PETALING JAYA: Despite having a job offer on standby, single father Ong Lai Foo remains unemployed, trapped by a requirement for a Certificate of Good Conduct.
This certificate is a lifeline for many Malaysians striving to rebuild their lives due to past misdemeanours.
The requirement, aimed at ensuring workplace integrity, has inadvertently become a barrier for individuals like Ong seeking a better future.
Ong, 52, from Sungai Pelek, Selangor, once worked as a delivery attendant at Changi Airport in Singapore.
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Eager to advance his career, he invested over S$3,000 (RM9,887) in training to become a security officer last December, only to be thwarted by a denied certificate application due to a minor past offence.
“I thought I had hope to improve my life, but this is dragging me down. Without the certificate, I cannot move on.
“I have a job offer and the employer is willing to wait for me. I only hope the government can help,” he said in an interview.
Ong said his predicament arose from a misunderstanding involving a friend’s misuse of his bank account in 2016, leading to a RM500 fine under Section 29(1) of the Minor Offences Act.
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He also has another record under Section 427 of the Penal Code, which was classified as “no further action” in 2014.
Unaware of the lasting implications of these minor infractions, Ong now faces significant employment barriers.
Despite seeking help from legal representatives, political figures and government agencies, he has hit numerous dead ends.
“I don’t know where else to go for help,” he said.
When Ong read about Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail’s announcement of potential amendments to the Registration of Criminals and Undesirable Persons Act 1969, he saw hope.
The proposed changes allow individuals with non-violent or minor offences to have their records expunged if they remain offence-free for a reasonable period.
These amendments, approved in principle by the Cabinet in May, offer hope to Ong and others like him, aiming to provide a second chance without the burden of a criminal record.
“I can only hope for the government to do this quickly so that people like me can have a chance to improve our lives.
“To err is human. I have been punished for my mistake. I want to make amends and I deserve that chance,” said Ong.
Calling for a compassionate approach to his predicament, he said everyone should have the opportunity to start anew.
Suara Rakyat Malaysia executive director Azura Nasron said the certificate should serve as a tool to demonstrate rehabilitation instead of an additional barrier.
“Individuals with minor offences should have a straightforward process to obtain the certificate once they have shown sustained good conduct, allowing them equal access to employment and opportunities to rebuild their lives.
“The certificate should not be used punitively against individuals who have already paid their debt to society,” she said.
