| Wani Roslan |
THE Minister of Home Affairs, YB Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Kerna Dato Seri Setia (Dr) Haji Awang Abu Bakar bin Haji Apong, shared that the majority of prisoners are Muslims, with the focus not only on helping them to recover, not commit crime again in the future and get jobs for them, but also towards a spiritual approach.
He was responding to Legislative Council (LegCo) member, YB Haji Emran bin Haji Sabtu, during the 14th LegCo session yesterday morning.
YB Haji Emran pointed out statistics of prisoners, especially in Jerudong Prison, according to the classification of the offence committed, who were involved in drug cases (22 per cent or 83 individuals), theft cases (21 per cent or 80 individuals) and house breaks-in (nine per cent or 37 individuals), while local residents involved 83 per cent (313 individuals) and those who repeatedly go to prison (more than four times) numbering at 31 per cent.
YB Haji Emran said the public must be made aware not to get involved in crimes, and asked about plans that have been implemented to reduce the number of crimes.
YB Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Kerna Dato Seri Setia (Dr) Haji Awang Abu Bakar said all relevant agencies are responsible to ex-prisoners, especially family members, in supporting them to live a normal life, with one such agency being the Social Issue National Council (MKIS).
He explained that the MKIS has a committee shared by the Ministry of Religious Affairs and the Ministry of Home Affairs to deal with issues related to criminal offences. Beyond that, other parties are responsible to contribute towards reducing the number of criminal cases and helping ex-prisoners.
YB Haji Emran also raised the issue concerning the progress of the ‘One Village, One Product’ (1K1P) initiative and on the achievement by Mukim and Village Consultative Councils in the country in producing their products, and how the programme can empower youths to get involved with it and making it as their career.
The Minister of Home Affairs responded by saying that there are currently 270 local products produced from the programme, yet not all products can get a boost in the local and regional market.
The minister added that their businesses need an improvement until they have achieved in small and medium enterprises (SMEs) business where it can increase the economy of the mukims and villages.
About the involvement of youths in the programme, the minister said the government encourages them to get involved with the programme, and that the entrepreneurs of the 1K1P can bring in the youths into the programme.