| James Kon |
MINISTER of Home Affairs Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Kerna Dato Seri Setia (Dr) Haji Awang Abu Bakar bin Haji Apong yesterday expressed regrets of Prisons Department personnel being involved in illegal or unlawful acts.
According to information collected from 2014 to 2018, as many as 11 officers and staff of the Prisons Department had been subjected to disciplinary actions for being involved in cases of drug abuse and Syariah criminal cases as well as corruption cases.
“Such acts and behaviours of a handful of personnel are very disappointing,” the minister said when delivering a speech as the guest of honour in a ceremony marking the Prisons Department’s 65th anniversary.
He added, “I believe the majority of this department’s officers and staff are also disappointed. The offenders have tarnished the good name of the Prisons Department.
“Disciplinary action taken includes terminating the offenders’ service. They not only lost a source of income but their future is now uncertain and their credibility is questionable,” the minister said.
He reminded all Prisons Department personnel to avoid illegal or unlawful acts and continue providing excellent service.
“It is important that prison personnel possess knowledge as well as practise positive work ethics and obey the teachings of Islam,” the minister added.
He said it is crucial for an officer to have integrity as such quality will help a person to move away from self-importance and to always comply with established instructions. Integrity is not only a measure of not being involved in corruption, crime and misuse of power but of the willingness to shoulder responsibilities.
He revealed that the Prison’s counselling division has expanded its scope of services to provide support to department personnel on voluntary basis.
Meanwhile, the minister pointed out that to ensure a continuation of quality leadership, a succession planning is of utmost importance.
Effective succession planning is based on quality intake, training, workforce development, well-established service scheme and transparent human resource management.
The minister also noted that the Prisons Department’s key performance indicator (KPI) target is to reduce former inmates returning to prison to 15 per cent by 2020.
He said that based on a recidivist statistic, the number of inmates returning to prison in 2015 saw a positive reduction at 15.73 per cent.
In 2016, the number of inmates returning to prison was at 9.69 per cent which is one of the lowest in the world.
This demonstrated that the Prisons Department’s rehabilitation programme is leaving a positive impact on former inmates, the minister added.
The anniversary ceremony took place at the parade ground of the Prisons Department’s training centre in Tutong District.
Also present were senior officials from the Ministry of Home Affairs and other government agencies as well as Legislative Council members and Prisons Department Acting Director Haji Mohd A’isamuddin bin Abdullah.
Pehin Kapitan Lela Diraja Dato Paduka Goh King Chin who also attended the ceremony vowed to continue his support of the Prisons Department’s aftercare programme to help former inmates attain employment.