KAJANG: A total of 937 prospects from 43 prisons in the country were released today under the Madani Yakin Licensed Prisoner Release (PBSL) programme in conjunction with Hari Raya Aidilfitri.
Selangor and Kuala Lumpur Prisons Director, Deputy Prisons Commissioner Aminon Adnan said the group comprised 899 men and 38 women, with 406 placed with their families, 390 with employers, 137 in halfway houses, and four under non-governmental organisations.
"The Prisons Department is targeting the release of 3,000 prospects this year under PBSL, which indirectly helps reduce prison overcrowding and costs, as the daily expense of maintaining one inmate is about RM50," he said at the programme event at Kajang Prison here on Tuesday (March 17), where he represented Deputy Commissioner-General of Prisons (Rehabilitation) Hafidz Othman.
The programme is granted to inmates serving prison terms of not more than three years, vulnerable groups, and pregnant women with sentences of less than four years, who have undergone rehabilitation programmes in prison, demonstrated good behaviour, and have guarantors.
In PERLIS, 22 inmates at the Perlis Correctional Centre were given the opportunity to start a new life through the programme.
Its director, Mohd Sabri Md Arshad, said all of them, who have less than six months remaining in their sentences, will undergo rehabilitation outside prison under the supervision of their respective employers.
"They are offered jobs in sectors such as car wash services, plantations, and agriculture, with salary scales and benefits similar to those of other workers. During their employment, they will be monitored by District Parole Officers," he said.
In KEDAH, 30 inmates were allowed to undergo rehabilitation outside prison in conjunction with Aidilfitri, with 15 placed with employers and 15 returning to their families.
The release ceremony was officiated by Kedah State Prisons Director Deputy Prisons Commissioner Charin Promwichit Chem at Pokok Sena Prison here.
In TERENGGANU, Marang Prison Deputy Director Fandika Safruddin said 79 inmates were released, with 17 allowed to return to their families, while 62 were placed in various job sectors, including eateries, nurseries, workshops and car wash centres.
He said most of those released were drug offenders serving prison sentences of less than three years.
"This job placement enables them to readjust to life in the community after being isolated and confined behind bars for a long time," he said. — Bernama
