Prison Department programme equips prospects with business skills, leadership and financial management for release.
BENTONG: The Malaysian Prison Department has launched the Life Transformation and Entrepreneurship Programme to equip prospects with business skills and prepare them for life after release.
Prison Commissioner-General Datuk Seri Abdul Aziz Abdul Razak said the six-month programme covers entrepreneurship, leadership development, communication, financial management, digital marketing, character building and soft skills.
He said 26 participants had been selected following a screening process, with entrepreneurship identified as an avenue to enhance their employability and encourage self-reliance.
“With the right skills and continuous guidance, they have the opportunity to create their own jobs, earn a lawful income, and build a more stable life with their families,” he said at the launch at the Bentong Prison Complex today.
Abdul Aziz said the programme is being implemented through a strategic collaboration between the Malaysian Prison Department and City University Malaysia, with support from the Federal Territory Taqwa Foundation, to strengthen human capital development and rehabilitation of prospects.
“I would like to express my appreciation to all parties involved and other strategic partners for their contributions in the form of training, research, funding, employment opportunities and advisory services,” he said.
He said the department consistently upholds the principle that every individual has the potential to change, stressing that a prison sentence should not be viewed as the end of a person’s life, but rather as an opportunity for self-improvement and rebuilding their future.
He added that the department is also implementing a rehabilitation approach through the Inspired Hope (Kanvas Harapan) programme, which features “Correctional Icons” or rehabilitation influencers to inspire fellow prospects.
“The success of former prospects proves that change is possible through effort, knowledge and proper guidance, thereby boosting their confidence to become self-reliant,” he said.
Abdul Aziz expressed hope that more strategic collaborations between the Malaysian Prison Department, higher education institutions and various agencies could be established to create a comprehensive and sustainable rehabilitation ecosystem capable of delivering long-term benefits to prospects.
