Another chance for 49 from three centres
Published on: Sun, May 11, 2025 Text Size: An MOE facilitator receiving a certificate of appreciation from Nora. KOTA KINABALU: Prison walls are no barrier to transformation — that is the core message of the Hijrah Kasih Program, now in its 16th edition, as 49 inmates from three rehabilitation institutions in Sabah were given a chance to change their life paths through education and character development. The program, jointly organized by the Malaysian Prisons Department and the Ministry of Education (MOE), is seen as a catalyst for change not only for the participants, but also for their families and surrounding communities. Director of the Corrections Division, Prison Commissioner Nora Musa, said quality education is the foundation for rehabilitation and character-building, especially for younger generations. 'The Prisons Department's vision of being a leader in corrective services cannot be achieved without close collaboration with external stakeholders, particularly in the areas of education and human development. 'Hijrah Kasih is not merely a program to fill time — it is a platform for inmates to reflect on themselves, correct their past mistakes, and chart a better path forward,' she said during the closing ceremony of Hijrah Kasih at Sekolah Integriti, Kota Kinabalu Central Prison. Nora added that the program's approach, which focuses on character development and human values, has proven to be effective and has established a legacy of rehabilitation since it was first introduced in 2012 at Henry Gurney School, Telok Mas, Melaka. A highlight of the three-day program's closing ceremony was the presence of parents, symbolizing emotional strength and moral support for their children undergoing rehabilitation. 'The presence of family members shows that love has never been severed, even when separated by prison walls. It becomes a powerful motivation for the inmates to continue striving to be better individuals,' said Nora. The program involved students from Sekolah Integriti Kota Kinabalu, Henry Gurney School for Women in Kota Kinabalu, and Henry Gurney School in Keningau. Throughout the event, held from May 6 to 8, 2025, participants engaged in various modules focusing on character development, leadership, and spiritual growth. In closing, Nora urged the participants to treat this experience as a stepping stone toward self-improvement and to prove they can contribute meaningfully to their families, society, and the nation. 'Let these walls mark the end of past mistakes. Rise, and prove that you are capable of choosing a noble path,' she said. * Follow us on Instagram and join our Telegram and/or WhatsApp channel(s) for the latest news you don't want to miss. * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available.
Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Barnama
15 hours ago
- Barnama
- It's Not About You
Opinions on topical issues from thought leaders, columnists and editors. And yet, we absorb it. Internalise it. Personalise it. That snappy comment from a colleague? It's probably not personal. The cold shoulder from a friend? It could be their own unresolved frustration. The driver who cuts you off, the student who seems disengaged, the person who doesn't return your message – chances are, they're wrestling with something you can't see. There's a quiet kind of freedom that comes from realising this truth: Most of the time, it's not about you. A blue-ticked WhatsApp message doesn't always mean you're being ignored. A sharp e-mail response doesn't automatically signal disrespect. Sometimes it's just a bad day. Or a bad week. Or a life that's fraying at the edges. But here's the thing: people are complex. Messy. Emotionally layered. And most of the time, their reactions say more about what's going on inside them than anything you did or said. We replay the moment again and again in our heads: Did I do something wrong? Did I offend them? Are they upset with me? That mental loop – exhausting, isn't it? Mitch Albom wrote in Tuesdays with Morrie, 'Don't let someone else's behaviour destroy your inner peace.' Simple, yes; but not always easy. And I had to learn this lesson the long way around. Years ago, a senior colleague I respected suddenly became distant. Short in meetings. Cool in conversation. It ate at me. I kept replaying our last few interactions, trying to pinpoint what I had said wrong. I even considered apologising for something I wasn't sure I had done. But then one evening, long after office hours, I saw him still in his room – head in his hands, visibly exhausted. A few days later, I learned he was dealing with a difficult family situation that had been weighing heavily on him for months. It was never about me. I can't tell you how many times I've carried someone else's storm like it was my fault for causing the rain. We all do it, especially when we're wired to care. But over time, I've come to appreciate the emotional clarity that comes from this one practice: pause before taking it personally. Sometimes people are rude because they're tired. Sometimes they're distant because they're anxious. Sometimes they're cold because they don't know how to say, 'I'm not okay.' And sometimes – they're just human. The Stoics knew this well. Marcus Aurelius wrote in his Meditations, 'You have power over your mind – not outside events. Realise this, and you will find strength.' And perhaps that's where real strength lies – not in retaliating, not in overthinking, but in choosing what we allow to take root inside us. The Templar shrug You see, when you take everything personally, you become a sponge for other people's emotional clutter. You carry burdens that were never yours to begin with. You give away your peace in exchange for their problems. But there's another way. I call it the Templar shrug – inspired by Richard Templar, the author of 2015 bestseller 'The Rules of Life'. Throughout his book, Templar comes across as someone who has mastered the art of emotional boundaries. Not because he doesn't care, but because he knows better than to waste energy on things that don't serve him. He writes with the kind of clarity that suggests a quiet confidence: don't take things personally, don't get dragged into unnecessary drama, and most of all, don't give people the power to ruin your day. Templar doesn't say it in so many words, but what he's really advocating for is freedom – the freedom to move through life without collecting other people's emotional baggage. The freedom to shrug off what isn't yours and walk on, lighter. That, to me, is a form of wisdom. So, the next time someone seems off, consider this: What if it has nothing to do with you? What if they're carrying something invisible – and the best thing you can do is not add your own assumptions to the weight? And if you're the one having a bad day, remember: others aren't mind readers either. If you need space, take it. If you need support, ask. But don't let your inner turmoil spill out as stray sharpness – someone else might carry that the whole day, thinking it was their fault. We're all navigating our own quiet battles. Some visible, many not. So be kind. And when someone's edge meets your calm, don't immediately absorb it; shrug and move on. Because most of the time, It's not about you. -- BERNAMA Ir Dr Nahrizul Adib Kadri (nahrizuladib@ is a professor of biomedical engineering at the Faculty of Engineering, and the Principal of Ibnu Sina Residential College, Universiti Malaya.
Daily Express
20 hours ago
- Daily Express
15,000ha in Sipitang approved for village settlements
Published on: Wednesday, August 13, 2025 Published on: Wed, Aug 13, 2025 By: Ahmad Apong Text Size: Dr Yusoff said this is the Chief Minister's intention to listen to and fulfil the wishes of rural residents in need of land. SIPITANG: A total of 15,000 hectares within a forest reserve area in Sipitang have been approved by the State Government for village settlements. Qhazanah Bhd Chairman and Sindumin Assemblyman Datuk Dr Yusoff Yaccob said this during a meeting with the Sabah Forestry Department on Thursday, adding that the land was recently approved by the State Legislative Assembly. The land comprises a Class Two Forest Reserve, which was formerly under the concession of Sabah Forest Industries. The meeting was aimed at organising, coordinating and standardising matters related to villages already inhabited by local residents. 'This is good news for the people. The Forestry Department has agreed to release the land for the settlers, particularly for residents who have already opened and cultivated the land,' he said. The meeting also discussed gazetting areas from Long Pasia, Long Mio, Meligan, Iburu, Mendulong, Sulub, Pakiak, Kampung Klias Baru and several other locations deemed suitable for opening. Residents hope this decision will become a reality, ensuring that those who have already opened the land will no longer feel threatened or fear eviction. Dr Yusoff said this is the Chief Minister's intention to listen to and fulfil the wishes of rural residents in need of land. Also present were Forest Resource Management Division Chief Azman Said, Sipitang District Forestry Officer Andrew Monis, Kota Kinabalu Regional Forestry Officer Mohd Nasir Ag Suman, Community Development Leader Unit representative Wendy Agung Baruh and District Chief OKK Daut Kassim. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Daily Express
2 days ago
- Daily Express
Plea to government to upgrade 6.8km Beaufort stretch
Published on: Tuesday, August 12, 2025 Published on: Tue, Aug 12, 2025 By: Ahmad Apong Text Size: Deteriorating condition: Residents urged the authorities to expedite upgrade of the road in question. BEAUFORT: Residents of Kampung Binunuk here urged the Government to upgrade a 6.8-kilometre stretch that was previously approved for an allocation of RM32 million, but has yet to be implemented. Resident, Ajip Usop, said he was made to understand a contractor had already been appointed for the road upgrade but years have passed without any visible sign of work being carried out. Advertisement 'A contractor came to survey the road, claiming they had secured the project. But to this day, we've never seen them return. It has been years,' he said. Ajip added that the road frequently floods, making it impassable and worsening its already deteriorating condition, riddled with potholes. He stressed that the upgrade should be expedited. 'The Public Works Department (JKR) must implement this project as soon as possible, for the comfort and safety of Kampung Binunuk residents,' he said. According to him, speaking through Daily Express is the only way to highlight their plight to the authorities, as previous appeals had been ignored by elected leaders. 'Just look at the condition of this road, how are we supposed to use it? It's full of potholes everywhere. Even vehicles owned by villagers are damaged,' he lamented. He pointed out that although the road is only 6.8 kilometres long, it has been neglected since independence, forcing the local community to continue using it out of necessity. 'Pity our children who have to walk through mud just to get to school. The same goes for our senior citizens and expectant mothers who need to get to hospital for treatment,' he said. Ajip added that many residents still use the muddy road on a daily basis, but questioned why the Government continues to overlook their suffering. 'People still brave this road, even in poor conditions. Does the Government not care about the residents who have no choice but to use it every day?' During the monsoon season, he said, the road becomes severely damaged and even cuts off access to town, making it hard for villagers to buy food and essential supplies. In emergencies, he added, damaged roads could delay the arrival of fire and rescue teams, putting lives and property at even greater risk. 'It would be in the best interest of everyone if the Government upgrades this road to ensure safer and easier access for all residents,' he said. Ajip appealed to Lumadan Assemblyman Datuk Ruslan Muharam, who is also Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister and Sipitang Member of Parliament Datuk Matbali Musah to take this issue seriously. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
