Freed: Some of the 51 inmates from the Penang Remand Prison leaving the prison. — LIM BENG TATT/The Star
GEORGE TOWN: A grandmother broke down when she saw her daughter and one-year-old grandson waiting for her outside the prison gates.
Sue, 49, had been granted an early release under the Ihsan Madani Licensed Prisoner Release programme.
She had been imprisoned for drug abuse and was treated for her drug addiction while inside.
“I have no one else except my daughter and grandson. They are my family, I give thanks to Allah for this opportunity,” she said.
Sue’s 22-year-old daughter said she was thrilled to be back with her mother.
“I hope my mother won’t repeat her mistake.
“I will do everything I can to keep her with us in our family home in Gelugor.”
The early release programme couldn’t have come at a better time for those celebrating Chinese New Year, too.
Ho, 66, who was arrested for theft and imprisoned last November was overjoyed when released from the Penang Remand Prison.
“My release was supposed to be in March, but when the prison officers told me I was in the programme, I felt elated,” he said.
Ho said he could not wait to be reunited with his siblings.
“I will never be involved in crime again. I want to be a good and useful citizen,” he added.
Another inmate who only wanted to be known as Tan said he could not believe it when prison officers told him he could go home early.
“I thank the prison officers for trusting me. I have no family members to go home to, but I have a job operating a lighthouse waiting for me and I am ready to do my duty,” he said.
Tan has been in prison since September last year for drug abuse.
Penang Prisons director Fayrouz Ahmad Zawawi said the three inmates were among 51 people including three women from Penang Remand Prison and Seberang Prai Prison who had been chosen for the early release programme.
“The prisoners were released to mark Chinese New Year. They can return to their families and start work earlier than their scheduled release,” he said.
He said the group was the first batch of prisoners released under the Ihsan Madani programme this year.
Fayrouz also said the ceremony was witnessed by representatives of five companies that have guaranteed jobs for prisoners after they have served their time.
“Use the opportunity given to you to be good citizens and don’t abuse the requirements of your early release,” he advised the prisoners.
The Ihsan Madani programme is one of the commitments of Malaysia Prisons Department to empowering rehabilitation in the community, and is a step towards reintegrating inmates into the community and to addressing overcrowding in prisons.
