Yesterday (Dec 11), the state of Selangor had a public holiday to celebrate the 79th birthday of Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah.
Aside from giving the state a day off, the Sultan also released a number of inmates currently serving their time, including one who had completed his PhD studies during his prison sentence.
M’sian man who earned PhD during 23-year prison term gets royal pardon
In a Facebook post shared by the Prisons Department, it wrote that the inmate named Murad (not his real name) was sent to the Drug Rehabilitation Center in Kajang Prison when he was only 14 in 2001.
Instead of wasting time while behind bars, Murad embarked on an academic journey which saw him being conferred a PhD in business administration, making him the first prisoner to do so.
After spending 23 years in jail, Murad was released and given a chance at building a new life when the Selangor Sultan granted him a royal pardon.
During his release process, joy and emotion were evident on Murad’s face as the release warrant was read by Kajang prison director Preshahdin Monshee.
“In his address, Preshahdin advised Murad to always uphold a high level of discipline and use the knowledge he has gained to improve himself after leaving prison. He also added that the Prisons Department is ready to assist Murad if he needs support,” the post read.
As for Murad, he expressed deep gratitude towards the Sultan for granting him a royal pardon and thanked the Prisons Department for giving him the opportunity to further his studies and earn a PhD.
He also said that he will remember the kindness shown to him while incarcerated, adding that he believes in the role the Prisons Department played in rehabilitating inmates like him.
READ ALSO:
