“After I was jailed at 21, I felt heavy with guilt as my mum had breast cancer and I could not be there for her. She passed away in 2019. By obtaining a degree, I have honoured her final wishes,” said Pooven, 31.
“I spent most of my 20s behind bars. After I become free in 5 years, I’m going to do a PhD in criminology and help prevent others from losing their youth like I did.”
Indran, 35, who looks forward to being freed in 2028, also obtained a degree and is now doing his MBA. “We have a conducive learning environment, with face-to-face classes and computers to do assignments. During exam week, we are allowed to bring back books to our cells to study.”
His sister, Nisha, said his whole family is immensely proud of him. “He’s the first among us to pursue a master’s”.
Diploma recipient, KK, 46, shared, “I dropped out of school in Form 1, so I’m very grateful to graduate now.”
His studies were sponsored by Buddha’s Light International Association, which has committed to sponsoring him for his bachelor’s degree next.
“I am grateful to the association, OUM, and the Prison Department. I hope I can be released early so that I can make full use of the knowledge I have gained,” said KK, who is serving a life sentence.
At present, OUM has 29 prison learners with 26 in the Kajang Prison and 3 in the Kota Kinabalu Prison in Sabah. Thus far, 21 have graduated, including these five inmates.
“This is undoubtedly an achievement we can be proud of as we are helping prison inmates to gain academic success,” said Faculty of Business and Management’s Assoc Prof Dr Santhi Raghavan.
“So, when they are out of prison, they can re-integrate into society and break the criminal cycle, especially among family members.”
* All the inmates’ names have been changed to protect their privacy.
