KAJANG: Malaysia’s prison management could save up to RM182mil per year through the community rehabilitation of inmates, says Home Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin.

       He said that aside from being able to reduce the number of prisoners, 80% of inmates can fill jobs that previously called for foreign labourers.

       “Continuous attention will be given to inmates that are eligible to serve rehabilitation sentences in the community," said Hamzah.

       He added that approximately 10,000 eligible prisoners will undergo programmes such as the Parole System, Licensed Prisoner Release and Inmate Reintegration Programme.

       Speaking at the 232th Prison Day at the Malaysian Prisons Department headquarters on Tuesday (March 22), Hamzah said that prisoners should be given chances, especially in terms of the job opportunities presented to them.

       “I believe those chances will be utilised by the inmates, and in return they will be able to contribute to the community and society,” Hamzah said.

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

       On this, Hamzah added that his Ministry is committed to implementing alternative prison sentences through the tabling of the Compulsory Attendance Order (CAO) (Amendment) 2021 Bill in December 2021.

       The Bill is expected to be passed during the current Parliament sitting.

       CAO is an alternative to imprisonment for those convicted of certain offences to serve out their sentences by doing "compulsory work" without compromising their daily lives.

       The Minister also added that a total of RM42.5mil has been allocated to the Prisons Department between 2020 and 2021 to widen the TVET skills training among inmates.

       “Among the training and programmes provided to fulfil the National TVET demands includes the food and beverages sector, manufacturing, services, textiles, agriculture and farming," said Hamzah.

       He added that these fields offered can supply highly-skilled workers to the most in-demand sectors such as furniture manufacturing, and said that this would be able to reduce the country's dependence on foreign labour.

       Hamzah said that the implementation of these programmes has led to a nationwide reduction of the number of prison inmates by approximately 10,000 people.

       “As of March 21 this year, there were 70,570 inmates which consisted of 56,068 prisoners placed in 39 prisons nationwide. The rest were in other correctional and rehabilitation facilities," said Hamzah.

       He added that the maximum capacity of the nation's prisons is 63,000 inmates.