| James Kon |
PEHIN Orang Kaya Seri Kerna Dato Seri Setia (Dr) Haji Awang Abu Bakar bin Haji Apong, the Minister of Home Affairs yesterday morning joined more than 2,000 runners in the Reintegration Run 2017 at Taman Haji Sir Muda Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien in a concerted show of solidarity against the stigma shown towards former prison inmates.
The Reintegration Run 2017 is a first-of-its-kind run which saw some 30 former inmates (Rakan Seliaan) and their families participating.
The run was meant to assimilate the former inmates back into society and to get members of the community to be more accepting and understanding towards these reformed individuals.
With the help of society and counseling from the Prisons Department, these former inmates stand a good chance of integrating well back into normal life and become productive individuals.
In an interview with the Bulletin, the minister explained that the message he wrote (for the former inmates) on the banner, “is that we love them. So that they don’t feel isolated and excluded from society. We want to send a message that society still loves and cares for them. This is the reason why we have created numerous programmes serving to strengthen the relationship between the former inmates and the community.”
When asked about the social stigma against former inmates, the minister said, “This is why a gathering like this is important; to provide an opportunity for the community to accept these individuals.
“It is important for the community to provide support and avoid stigmatising them.
“We should be confident that these individuals, during their time in prison attended trainings and religious programmes that provided them useful skills as well as spiritual guidance, are able to turn over a new leaf and make good of their time in the society.”
The Reintegration Run 2017, he said, “ It was organised by the Prisons Department for the first time through the ‘Rakan Seliaan’ programme – an initiative where the Prisons Department together with related stakeholders provide specific skills training to those in prison.
“The programme has seen inmates making good use of their new skills and crafting some useful goods; some of these are showcased in exhibitions during Bandarku Ceria, while a larger range of products were sold in a supermarket last month.
Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Kerna Dato Seri Setia (Dr) Haji Awang Abu Bakar bin Haji Apong, the Minister of Home Affairs writing his message on the banner
The minister with senior officials from the ministry and Prisons Department taking part in the warm up session
Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Kerna Dato Seri Setia (Dr) Haji Awang Abu Bakar bin Haji Apong, the Minister of Home Affairs with some sponsors of the Prisons Department’s activity
The runners in the Men’s 5km open category
Participants join the Fun Run category
Participants taking a group photo with the banner in the background. – PHOTOS: JAMES KON
Abdul Mutalib bin Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Setia Dato Paduka Haji Mohd Yusof, the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Home Affairs in a group photo with the winners
“Both showcases have received a very encouraging response from the public.
“The run is also aimed at raising funds for the Prisons Department to implement various Rakan Seliaan programmes to help inmates start anew in life.
“The programme has been quite effective; we have now seen some of the former inmates starting small and medium enterprise (SME) businesses of their own such as car wash businesses and farming,” the minister added.
One of the Rakan Seliaan who ran in the 3km Fun Run event was Awang Alyani.
Currently working as a mosque assistant, he revealed that the social stigma he faced was his biggest personal challenge after being released in 1996.
He also said that the Rakan Seliaan programme and counselling sessions have given him encouragement to continue fighting for acceptance in the local community.
He also expressed hope that other former inmates would follow his suit and register for counselling services by the Prisons Department to overcome any issues they might be facing.
Before the conclusion of the event, Abdul Mutalib bin Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Setia Dato Paduka Haji Mohd Yusof, the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Home Affairs, presented prizes to the winners of the run.
Local marathon runner, Sefli bin Ahar captured first prize in the Men’s 12km Open category.
Second place went to Shahrizal bin Uni, while Abdul Malik bin Hidup scooped third place.
For the Men’s 5km Open category, David Patton grabbed first place, Aziz Imaadi finished second, while Mohd Zulfadhli bin Esa took third place.
In the Women’s 12km Open category, Marine Ahmad was the first to cross the finish line and grabbed first place, while second place went to Yuette Kortekaas.
Third place went to Dawn Lovell.
The Women’s 5km Open event saw Nikmatul Fatinah binti Haji Ismail finishing first, Pengiran Rohayaty binti Pengiran DP Md Yassin coming in second, and Angela Lew Li Ling clocking in third place.
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