THE Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, granted an audience to Dr Malik Yatam, the first former prisoner to obtain a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) while in prison and be granted a full pardon in conjunction with his birthday in 2024.
According to the Selangor Royal Office, during the meeting, his Majesty inquired about Malik's health and future plans after being released from prison.
"His Majesty was deeply moved by Malik's life story and felt he deserved a second chance.
"His Majesty had considered pardoning him after considering all the factors brought to his attention during the Pardon Board Meeting on 24 November 2024.
"His Majesty also advised Malik to continue to uphold the family's good name and be determined in improving his quality of life," said the statement from the Selangor Royal Office today.
According to the Selangor Royal Office, the meeting was described as solemn and emotional. It was also the first time the Sultan had met a pardoned former prisoner.
"This is the first meeting of its kind between Tuanku Sultan Sharafuddin and a former prisoner who has been pardoned by His Majesty," the statement said.
After 24 years of serving a sentence under the Tahanan Limpah Sultan (TLS), a sentence with no release date, not sentenced to death because when the crime was committed the prisoner was under 18 years old, Malik was finally released on 11 December 2024.
He had been serving his sentence since 2001 at the age of 14, Malik, now 39, successfully obtained a PhD in business administration, as a result of his efforts to continue his studies while serving his sentence in Kajang Prison. – February 4, 2026
