NIBONG TEBAL: The Prisons Department plans to expand a new family and parenting rehabilitation module nationwide to reduce recidivism rates among inmates.
Prisons Deputy Commissioner-General (Security and Correctional) Rosoman Abu Bakar @ Che Din said the pioneer initiative, Kompas Sejahtera, equipped inmates with essential life skills prior to their reintegration into society.
He said the pilot run involved 30 facilitators from the northern zone correctional institutions — covering Penang, Kedah, Perlis and Perak — and directly benefited 224 male inmates at the Seberang Prai Prison.
“We hope the module owner will allow the Prisons Department to roll out these modules across all correctional institutions in Malaysia,” he said at the programme’s closing ceremony.
The event was officiated by state Social Development, Welfare and Non-Islamic Religious Affairs Committee chairman Lim Siew Khim.
Kompas Sejahtera was developed through strategic collaborations with Universiti Utara Malaysia and the National Population and Family Development Board.
Rosoman said the department is also working to certify the facilitators’ training and is considering submitting the initiative for recognition in the Malaysia Book of Records.
“Inmates who are about to be released must possess the awareness, knowledge and skills to return as responsible fathers, husbands and members of society. This directly reduces the risk of re-offending,” he said.
He added that the training modules should also be extended to prison personnel to strengthen their roles as leaders and agents of change within the correctional system.
Addressing the inmates, Rosoman urged them to treat the programme as a turning point, reminding them that a father’s responsibility goes beyond material provision to include love, attention, education, guidance and character building.
“Your past is not an obstacle to building a more meaningful future. Opportunities to change are always there, every second, provided you take that first step,” he added.