Corporate Smart Internship programme helped 7,051 parolees find jobs, says Saifuddin
He highlighted that 789 companies are collaborating with the Prisons Department to support the initiative, which aims to reintegrate inmates, referred to as 'prospects', into the workforce via parole, licensed release schemes, or Henry Gurney rehabilitation programmes.
"Whether released through parole or other supervised schemes, we call them 'prospects', not convicts. They are now outside the prison walls, employed and contributing," he stated in the Dewan Rakyat on Monday (Aug 4).
The job opportunities span the services, plantation, manufacturing, agriculture, and construction sectors.
Saifuddin is confident that the number of prospects placed in jobs could soon rise to 8,500, with Guthrie (SD Guthrie Bhd) agreeing to accommodate an additional 644 candidates.
"Guthrie not only hires them but also trains them, issues harvesting certificates, and pays them a proper wage," he mentioned, adding that Shopee is expected to take on up to 350 prospects.
Addressing concerns about public and employer perceptions, Saifuddin stressed the importance of ongoing engagement to change mindsets and reduce stigma.
"The prison is no longer merely a place of punishment. It's a teaching factory for work-based learning. We provide TVET (Technical and Vocational Education and Training) in 35 institutions within our prison system," he explained.
Saifuddin was responding to V. Sivakumar (PH–Batu Gajah) regarding the effectiveness of the parole programme from 2024 to June 2025.
The training encompasses six core fields: food preparation, services, manufacturing, textiles, agriculture/plantation, and animal husbandry. According to Saifuddin, 19,361 inmates have completed TVET programmes and obtained certifications recognised by the Department of Skills Development (JPK) and the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) as of 2024.
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