KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah Industrial Development, Entrepreneurship and Transport Ministry is considering working with the Prisons Department to help released prisoners find jobs or become entrepreneurs.
Its minister Datuk Ewon Benedick said the ministry will have further discussions with the Prison Department in Sabah to explore collaborative opportunities, as former inmates who truly want to rebuild their lives deserve a second chance.
“Maybe we can also get the Department of Industrial Development and Research to hop on board,” he said after officiating the MyPride Fest and Fair at the ITCC shopping mall in Penampang near here, Sunday.
He said that, as a community that hopes to build human capital, second chances for those who have paid for and learnt from their mistakes should be given.
Ewon said the private sector too can opt to hire and train these individuals, with the collaboration of the Prison Department so that they have a way out to integrate back into society.
“I was made to understand that there are local entrepreneurs who dared to take the chance and risk by training, hiring and giving these former prospects a chance in life,” he said.
Earlier, he said the Sept 23 to Sept 27 MyPride Fest and Fair showcased items made by inmates and were up for sale to the public at relatively lower prices.
This event provides inmates the opportunity to show the people that they too have skills that can be tapped into and, hopefully, help them earn a living outside prison walls.
Ewon said training for individuals undergoing rehabilitation should suit current market and employment needs.
He said they can also be exposed to basic business skills such as cost calculation, quality control, packaging, and marketing so they can find jobs when they return to society.
