Deputy Minister Ramkarpal Singh visits an inmate who’s been at the Pengkalan Chepa Women’s Prison in Kelantan for 18 years already. The minister took to his official Twitter and Facebook page to share the story of his brief interaction with the prisoner in hopes to shed light on her story and that she gets to be released soon.
The woman inmate was originally sentenced to the mandatory death penalty for drug trafficking in 2005 but the sentence was later reduced to life imprisonment after a successful appeal.
At the beginning of her sentence, she had to leave her 5 year old child who has since turned 23 this year and currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree.
Despite her past mistake and no concrete prospect of her ever getting released, the inmate still took the opportunity to learn a variety of life skills, one of them being baking. Ramkarpal said that the prisoner enjoys making bread and local pastries.
“I see she was determined to be a better person even though she will spend the rest of her life in prison. However, with the repeal of life imprisonment in the last Parliament session, she could be released soon.”
In hopes for the best, if she gets released she wishes to spend time with her child and open her own bakery shop using the skills she acquired at the Pengkalan Chepa Prison.
The minister ends his story by wishing the prisoner and her family all the best for the future.
After years of rights groups lobbying for the abolishment of the mandatory death penalty and life imprisonment sentences, Malaysia finally progresses by passing the bill. This new change gives hopes to a lesser sentence for many inmates trapped in the prison system.
Ramkarpal’s story highlights the effectiveness of rehabilitation methods as a second chance for prisoners to reintegrate safely, healthily and sustainably back into society.
What do you think of this news? Are you also hoping this inmate gets released soon after 18 long years in prison?
