Prisons Dept liaising with 789 groups to provide jobs for parolees
Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said the initiative, under the Corporate Smart Internship programme, aims to secure employment and support the reintegration of former inmates into society.
He said these individuals were employed in sectors such as services, plantations, manufacturing, agriculture and construction.
"We are confident we can increase this number to 8,500 soon, as Guthrie (SD Guthrie Bhd) has agreed to take on another 644 prospects.
"Guthrie is not only hiring them, but also providing training and issuing harvesting certificates, as well as paying wages. Shopee, too, will be hiring 350 prospects," he said.
Saifuddin was responding to V. Sivakumar (PH–Batu Gajah) on the effectiveness of the parole programme from 2024 to June 2025.
Saifuddin said the Prisons Department also operates 35 Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) centres to equip inmates with skills before release.
"As of 2024, a significant number of individuals, 19,361, have successfully obtained skill and TVET certificates.
"While they are still prospects awaiting their release, we train them so they go out with valuable skills. This helps prevent them from falling back into crime and facing societal stigma, and reduces recidivism rates.
"For every 800 individuals released, only one reoffends and returns to prison," he added.
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