Study Visit to Kajang Women’s Prison

Kajang, Selangor, 19 December 2023 – The Initiative to Promote Tolerance and Prevent Violence (INITIATE.MY) participated in a study visit to Kajang Women’s Prison, organised by Dr. Haezreena Begum, a Board of Expert Member at INITIATE.MY and Deputy Dean at the Faculty of Law, University of Malaya. The visit provided insights into the vocational programmes offered to women inmates, including baking, sewing, handcrafting, and spa services. These initiatives aim to facilitate the inmates’ rehabilitation by developing their skills and enabling their reintegration into society. Products such as cookies and batik items, produced by the inmates, are sold to the public under the My Pride brand. While the immediate financial impact may be modest, these programmes offer inmates the opportunity to earn income and gain valuable skills during their time in prison.

INITIATE.MY views the study visit as a valuable opportunity for meaningful exchanges between academia, civil society practitioners, prison officials, and inmates. It fosters understanding of Malaysia’s prison system, sheds light on the challenges faced by both the prison department and inmates, and explores avenues for improvement, particularly in terms of facility upgrades and effective reintegration programmes upon inmates’ release.