In 2023, only one out of 800 individuals released under parole, licensed release or the mandatory attendance order (MAO) committed offences again and returned to prison.

“This proves that rehabilitation in the community works. These individuals stay in society, contribute meaningfully, and are still closely monitored,” Saifuddin said at the 235th Prisons Day celebration here.

The prisons department currently manages 82,100 inmates, with another 6,000 in community programmes.

To support reintegration, over 1,200 private companies have partnered with the ministry to provide jobs for inmates. Inmates are paid for their work and part of the income can be sent to their families.

However, social stigma remains a major obstacle to reintegration.

“If the community continues to reject them, we risk repeating the same cycle,” Saifuddin said.

To address this, the ministry has established halfway houses for ex-inmates rejected by their families. These centres provide temporary shelter and support while they find employment and reintegrate.

The MAO currently applies to offenders serving up to three or four years, but Saifuddin said the ministry plans to extend it to those serving up to 10 years. The Attorney-General’s Chambers is drafting the necessary legal changes.

To ease prison overcrowding, the ministry is also proposing home detention with electronic monitoring for minor offenders currently on remand.

More than 27,000 people are currently being remanded, many for minor offences.