KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 9,425 job opportunities have been offered to prison prospects this year, with 6,165 successfully placed in employment as of Monday (Dec 15), said Deputy Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Shamsul Anuar Nasarah.
He said the Prison Department has established strategic collaborations with employers through the Corporate Smart Internship (CSI) programme, involving 735 employers from various sectors.
The initiative employs parolees, licensed ex-inmates, inmates with temporary release, and individuals under industrial supervision.
"This programme not only helps reduce prison congestion but also equips prospects with skills relevant to the current job market,” he said during the question-and-answer session in the Dewan Negara on Tuesday (Dec 16).
Shamsul Anuar was responding to a question from Senator Datuk Shamsuddin Abd Ghaffar on the effectiveness of work and industrial training programmes for prison prospects through collaborations between the Prison Department and the industrial and private sectors.
He said the term ‘prison prospects’ refers to inmates participating in rehabilitation or character-building programmes, which aim to change public perception and provide second chances to individuals serving sentences.
Since 2016, he added, the Prison Department has implemented the Community Rehabilitation Programme, which includes initiatives such as CSI, enabling prospects to gain real work experience, improve skills, and receive ongoing support from both the community and industry.
These initiatives not only reduce the country’s reliance on foreign labour but also contribute to the growth and strengthening of the domestic economy,” he said. — Bernama
