KAJANG: A total of RM182mil has been saved in managing prisons through the inmate community rehabilitation programmes, says Home Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin.

       He said an estimated 80% of inmates were placed in industries which reduced the country’s dependence on foreign labour.

       “Some 10,000 prisoners were eligible to undergo programmes, such as the Parole System, the Licensed Prisoner Release and the Inmate Reintegration Programme,” he said during the 232nd Prison Day ceremony at the Malaysian Prisons Department headquarters yesterday.

       This year’s celebration, themed “Empowering Correctional Community”, is aimed at providing opportunities for inmates to receive such training and rehabilitation while serving sentences.

       The ministry, he added, was also committed to carrying out alternative prison sentences through the tabling of the Compulsory Attendance Order (CAO) (Amendment) 2021 Bill, which is expected to be passed during the current Parliamentary meeting.

       CAO is an alternative to imprisonment for those convicted of certain offences as they will serve out their sentences by doing “compulsory work” that do not compromise their daily lives.

       A total of RM42.5mil, said Hamzah, had also been allocated to the Prisons Department between 2020 and 2021 to widen the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) skills among inmates.

       “Training and programmes provided to fulfil the National TVET include the food and beverage sector, manufacturing, services, textiles, agriculture and farming,” he said.

       Later he told reporters that following the implementation of the programmes, the number of inmates in prisons had reduced by around 10,000 people nationwide.

       “As of March 21 this year, there were 70,570 inmates comprising 56,068 prisoners in 39 prisons nationwide. The rest are in other correctional and rehabilitation facilities.

       “The number of inmates have decreased through the implementation of these programmes involving the community. This is crucial to make sure that they will be able to reintegrate into the society and be accepted.”