KUALA LUMPUR – Unlike most prisoners who re-enter the world with almost nothing, inmates like Along and Awe will be released with the necessary vocational skills to lead a new life thanks to the second chance programme (Peka).
For the past year, Along and Awe, who are both still serving their prison sentence, worked in construction at the Johan Setia LRT3 site before being transferred to the Central Region Tower Crane Training Site this week for further vocational training where they will learn, among other things, how to operate tower cranes.
Although they spend most of their time now at the training facility, which operates as a collaboration between the Malaysian Resources Corporation Berhad (MRCB) and the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB), Along and Awe are still subject to prison rules.
Besides work and training, they are not allowed to go wherever they want and must return to their dormitories. However, their families are allowed to visit them during their time off from work on Sundays.
Prisoners working under this programme are paid, with Along explaining that participants receive salaries according to the current minimum wage rate of RM1,500.
Further, in addition to a guaranteed job by MRCB, Along said they can also expect higher wages after undergoing additional training.
“If I am qualified as a crane operator, I will be paid as such. If it’s RM20 per hour, that’s what I will get.
“Not every prisoner would have this opportunity to join this programme. First, they will select those who display good discipline and don’t have any problems.
“I was sentenced to six years imprisonment in 2020 and have already served four years. This Peka programme will allow me to be released early next year,” Along told Scoop after the Central Region Tower Crane Training Site launch event at MRCB’s Casting Yard in Bandar Saujana Putra yesterday.
Meanwhile, Awe explained that usually prisoners spend most of their time repeating similar routines in prison and are not able to handle returning to everyday life after release.
Most prisoners, Awe also pointed out, have a difficult time finding and keeping a job given that they are released from prison without the necessary skills.
“I’m thankful to MRCB and CIDB for this programme because I am an inmate with no proper work experience. This has changed my life because I can support my family.
“This programme didn’t only give me experience but taught me discipline and structure,” Awe said.
MRCB has been a participant in the Peka programme since 2019 and has provided both work and training to 460 prisoners so far.
At the launch of the Central Region Tower Crane Training Site yesterday, MRCB executive vice president Datuk Dell Akbar said that since their participation in the programme, none of the participants have returned to committing crimes.
Yesterday, Dell announced that 10 more prisoners will join the Peka programme at the Central Region Tower Crane Training Site. – November 12, 2024