KOTA KINABALU: A momentary lapse of judgment landed a mother of one here behind bars for drug abuse.
Determined to change, the 45-year-old former salesperson opted to learn skills during her incarceration.
She was recently chosen to take part in a hotel operations modular course and subsequently offered a job in a hotel's housekeeping department upon her release.
“I did not expect this job offer. I am very excited to finish my jail term and start over,” she said when met recently.
She said she planned to seize this second chance and urged the public never to take drugs, even out of curiosity.
“Don’t take drugs, please. Never, not ever,” she said, adding that there were safer ways to face challenges or stay awake for work or studies.
Another course participant, a 40-year-old father of three, said his love for his wife and three teenage children made him determined to turn over a new leaf.
“I lived in the 'black area' of Kg Sembulan and was influenced by the wrong crowd. Now, I am deeply regretful of all the wrong decisions I made.
“I told myself that I will never again do drugs and will change myself for the better for my children and wife,” he said.
He hopes that when he gets out in two years, he can earn an honest living and has vowed not to get back in touch with his old crowd.
“Everything I do from now on, I will think of my loved ones first,” he said, urging others to also think of their children, partner and family every time they do something.
The 18-day course, which ended on Thursday (Aug 7), saw the participation of 32 selected prospects, 17 men and 15 women.
They were trained in housekeeping, kitchen duties and stewarding at the Prison Department complex here.
The course is a collaboration between the Sabah Prison Department and a city centre hotel, which funded the course and provided the trainers.
