Even before his return to Malaysia on Feb 7, some groups and people had expressed objections and concerns about him moving freely amongst them.

This made his early days here seem “longer than decades behind bars”, according to a source close to Selva Kumar’s family who spoke to FMT four months ago.

Providing an update on the 57-year-old, the source told FMT recently that Selva Kumar no longer felt “awkward”, and was now slowly integrating back into the society.

He had also begun feeling comfortable leaving the safety of his home, and “live like any other ordinary person”, said the source.

“Selva spends a lot of time with his family in the Klang Valley. He is no longer living in fear.

“He is also free to go in and out of his home without having to worry being perceived negatively by the public,” the source told FMT.

Selva Kumar had also “repented”, said the source.

Last week he received his new MyKad, confirming the renewal of his citizenship status. This makes it easier for him to go about his daily business.

Despite this, the former inmate is still not ready for employment.

He was focusing instead on a religion he had just embraced, said the source who told FMT not to divulge further details about the religion, until the “time is right”.

Selva Kumar was a student of Penang Free School before leaving Malaysia to continue his studies in Canada.

In 1992, a Canadian court sentenced him to 24 years in jail on 19 counts of sexual assault, 28 counts of using prohibited substances such as drugs, 10 counts of assault and other offenses.

Canadian media, quoting several police officers who had investigated him, said they believed Selva Kumar also victimised more than 1,000 women in Canada, an accusation which his family had said was absurd.

Many however questioned if he had really repented. The Canadian prison authorities believed he had not, saying there was a possibility of him continuing his earlier ways.