PETALING JAYA: They were once known only for the mistakes they made as teenagers.
Today, some are entrepreneurs, professionals and members of the uniformed services, quietly rebuilding their lives.
Their journeys reflect the growing success of rehabilitation programmes at Sekolah Henry Gurney (SHG), where the Prisons Department prepares juvenile offenders for life after release.
According to the department, 16 former SHG residents furthered their studies in 2023, followed by 12 in 2024 and 15 in 2025.
Two more have done so this year under the Licensed Release Programme.
“Among them are Frederick Xian Anak Bartholomew Albern, who won a gold medal at Sukma 2024, and Clarkson Evans Tom Anak Frankie, who also represented Sarawak and secured gold.
“Another notable achievement was the appointment of former resident Henry Kennedy Anak Tina as a junior sailor in the Royal Malaysian Navy under the Licensed Release Programme.
“He is the first trainee from SHG to secure employment with the Navy. He is currently assigned to KD Sri Rajang in Sibu, Sarawak, and has also been appointed Sarawak Zone Leader,” the department said.
The achievements come as the Prisons Department continues to strengthen rehabilitation at SHG through six core pillars: academic education, TVET, religious development, sports, arts and culture, and reintegration.
“Residents undergo formal education based on the Education Ministry curriculum and skills training leading to the Malaysian Skills Certificate. Eligible residents may also undergo industrial training or employment through the Licensed Release Programme before completing their sentences,” it said.
Criminologist Dr Zalmizy Hussin said the achievements demonstrate that the department’s rehabilitation efforts are producing encouraging results, but cautioned that examination results, sporting success and employment should only be viewed as early indicators of rehabilitation.
“From a criminological perspective, the real measure of rehabilitation is whether former juvenile offenders are able to build stable, law-abiding lives, develop a prosocial identity and sustain positive change without institutional supervision,” he told The Star.
He said rehabilitation should not end upon release, as the transition back into society is often the most critical phase.
“Institutions can build discipline, education and skills, but it is the community that determines whether those changes can be sustained. If former residents receive family support, employment opportunities, access to education, mentors and acceptance from society, their chances of building a new life are significantly higher,” he said.
Echoing the call for stronger post-release support, Belia Mahir president Mohammad Rizan Hassan said Malaysia should strengthen rehabilitation beyond institutional care by adopting the Youth-Adult Partnership approach through Professional Youth Workers.
He said Professional Youth Workers could provide long-term mentoring by helping former juvenile offenders access education, TVET, employment and psychosocial support while acting as a bridge between families, schools, employers, government agencies and the wider community.
“Rehabilitation should not end when a juvenile offender leaves an institution. It should only be considered successful when they are able to live independently, secure stable employment, build positive support networks and be accepted back into society,” said Mohammad Rizan, who is also a former SHG resident.
