LAHAD DATU: The Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (Mosti) is ready to work with the Jabatan Penjara Malaysia to explore Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) opportunities for inmates as part of efforts to develop their skills and prepare them for life after release.
Deputy Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation Datuk Haji Mohammad Yusof Apdal said inmates should also be given opportunities to develop their potential in science, technology and innovation alongside existing rehabilitation programmes.
He said the Jabatan Penjara had demonstrated that inmates could produce creative works and develop practical skills, which could be further strengthened through suitable technical and innovation-based programmes.
“Why not provide them with exposure to science, technology and innovation, so that their ideas and creativity can be developed and connected to their future when they return to the community,” he said.
Mohammad Yusof said MOSTI was prepared to share its expertise and work with the Jabatan Penjara if there was a need to introduce or expand TVET-related initiatives within correctional institutions.
He said TVET could provide inmates with broader opportunities by equipping them with both technical knowledge and practical skills that could be applied in employment and other areas after their release.
He was speaking after officiating the Lahad Datu Prison Corrective Outreach Programme 2026 at Dewan Toh Puan Norlidah here, Friday.
Speaking about the programme, Yusof said the initiative provided the community with a clearer understanding of the Jabatan Penjara’s role in rehabilitation and in preparing inmates for their return to their families and society.
He said the outreach programme reflected a broader approach to corrections, where prisons also functioned as centres for character development, education, skills training, counselling and other rehabilitation activities.
“Cooperation between government agencies, educational institutions, employers, non-governmental organisations, families and the community are important in creating a supportive environment for rehabilitation,” he said.
Earlier in his speech, Yusof said social support, employment opportunities, welfare assistance and continued guidance after release were important elements in helping former inmates make a positive transition back into the community.
Yusof also highlighted the important role of families, saying their presence and moral support could provide participants with strength and motivation as they worked towards improving their lives.
Therefore, he urged participants to make full use of the opportunities available through rehabilitation programmes and regard their past experiences as lessons in building a better future.
He said every individual had the opportunity to change and make a new beginning, while expressing hope that continued cooperation between Lahad Datu Prison, government agencies and the local community would strengthen the rehabilitation ecosystem.
“Rehabilitation could not be carried out by any single organisation alone and required a coordinated effort involving families, agencies and the community,” he added.
Sabah and Labuan Prisons Department director, Tey Hock Soon said the annual Corrective Outreach Programme was conducted at the State’s seven correctional institutions according to their respective schedules.
He said about 20 selected inmates took part in the Lahad Datu programme together with their parents, siblings and other family members to provide moral support during their rehabilitation.
Tey said the department also worked with the Social Security Organisation (Perkeso) through the MyFutureJobs programme to ensure inmates were not excluded from employment and training opportunities.
Inmates could undergo various skills programmes, including TVET courses offered in collaboration with the Ministry of Human Resources, before completing their sentences.
The department also had partnerships with employers through its Corporate Smart Partnership initiative, including opportunities in the plantation sector around Lahad Datu and Tawau.
“These opportunities are intended to ensure that they leave the institution with skills and preparation that can be applied in the workplace,” he said.
Tey said the department’s rehabilitation efforts also included community-based programmes such as parole and licensed release, which provided supervision, intervention and assistance in securing employment.
He added that continued support from families, employers and government agencies would help former inmates make a smoother transition into the community and pursue a productive future.
