POKOK SENA – The sight of an elderly woman stepping into the Pokok Sena Prison near here with a limp caught the attention of many people who had gathered there yesterday.
Even though she had to walk a long way from home to get there, she never once complained or asked the officers there for any special treatment.
She gave a conciliatory smile every time the staff of the Prisons Department asked if she was comfortable and alright.
It soon became known, after some friendly questioning, that she was there to welcome her son Zaki (not his real name), who was being freed from jail where he had been incarcerated due to a drug-related conviction since Ramadan last year.
Her sweet smile continued when her 53-year-old son emerged, bowing low and kissing her hand several times before she affectionately pecked his cheek.
Soon they were both invited on a stage to receive a letter of release from the Pokok Sena Prison director, Deputy Commissioner Aminon Adnan.
Zaki was among 44 prisoners who were released from the prison on Merdeka eve on good behaviour.
After smiling for a long while, Shamsiah (not her real name), 71, finally shed tears when she was asked to talk about her newly liberated son.
Mother’s prayer
His eyes lit up when she expressed hope that he would change after being given the opportunity to be free earlier than the due date through the Licensed Prisoner Release Programme.
“Actually, this is the thirteenth time Zaki, who is also a former soldier, has been put in jail for drug offences,” she said.
“But I am still here for him today, just like when he finished training to be a soldier decades ago.
“Even though he is older, I still want to see him change, and will always pray for him every day until the end of his life,” she told Getaran, the Malay-language sister portal of The Vibes.
“I really hope that Zaki, who is also the eldest of seven siblings, will change for good now.
“I believe he can, because after being released from prison for the 12th time about seven years ago, he managed to stay away from drugs until he got stuck in it again. He was then imprisoned again last Ramadan.
“With this release, I hope he can really leave drugs for good this time.”
New leaf
Seeing his mother’s condition, Zaki, who is a widower and has two children, also wept and promised to change.
Zaki said that he wants to lead a normal life again.
“I don’t need all these drug ‘things’. Instead, I want to go back to work and take care of my elderly mother. That’s all I want right now.
“After being released from prison for the 12th time, I worked as a supervisor in a corn plantation.
“Right now, I want to use the expertise I have to get a job like that, and be more careful in making friends so I don’t get caught up with drugs anymore.”
Second chance
Aminon explained that Zaki and the others had passed the relevant screening under Section 43 of the Prison Act 1995 (Act 537) and Regulation 111 of the Prison Regulations 2000.
Some of the released individuals returned to their families, while others had already been offered jobs by companies that had agreed to cooperate with the department.
“These people met the conditions and passed the screening.
“Even though they have been released, employers and family members continue to be encouraged to keep in touch with parole officers, to inform them about the individual’s progress.
“During the several years this programme has been running, the effects have been positive.
“No major problems have arisen, and the ex-inmates who were released also managed to adapt to community life fairly quickly.”
High discipline
Meanwhile, enterpreneur Noor Fatin Izzati Mazlan, 27, shared that this is the ninth time she has hired employees among prisoners freed under the programme.
“One of my company’s businesses is in the car wash service, and most of them are employed in that.
“So far, we have had no problems with them at all, with each showing good discipline and always obeying instructions while working.
“Some of them have been working with me for the past two years, while the rest have obtained jobs in factories after I recommended them to friends.
“For me, this programme is quite good and beneficial for all parties.” – The Vibes, August 31, 2023
