“I just want to hug and kiss my children again.”
These were the first words of Chiew (pseudonym), a 42-year-old mother, after she was released from Kluang Prison under the Ihsan Madani programme.
Chiew was among 41 prisoners released under the Licensed Prisoner Release Programme (PBSL) Ihsan Madani, held in conjunction with Merdeka Day and Malaysia Day at Kluang Prison.
A mother’s heartbreak behind bars
For Chiew, freedom is bittersweet. The single mother still recalls the day she was sent to prison — November 2023 — a date that also marked the birth of her fifth child.
With no family by her side, she had to endure the pain of parting with her newborn just as her sentence began.
Her time in prison was the result of being drawn into the world of unlicensed moneylenders. What began as a desperate attempt to follow her friends soon spiralled into a two-year prison sentence, reported Berita Harian.
Paid RM1,000 to burn houses & cars
Looking back, Chiew admitted she and her friends had been hired by a loan shark syndicate to carry out arson attacks.
“We were paid RM1,000 each time by the syndicate. In total, we faced 22 charges, from fines to imprisonment,” she said.
The memory of those 18 months behind bars still weighs heavily on her.
That was when I realised the mistakes I made for blindly following friends without thinking of the consequences. Every day, I thought of my children in Johor Bahru, who are under my mother’s care. After this, I just want to be with them all the time.”
Her words reflected not just regret, but also the longing of a mother who has been separated from her children for too long.
Finding new skills & redemption
Despite the hardships, prison also became a place of unexpected growth. Chiew discovered talents she never knew she had, from tailoring clothes to crafting bags.
These newfound skills, she believes, could help her stand on her own two feet once she returns home.
For Chiew, the path forward is clear: “I just want to be with my children all the time.”
Her release, alongside 40 others, was witnessed by Kluang Prison Director Deputy Commissioner of Prisons Muhammad Nazri Nasruddin and Commander of the Southern Region Civil Defence Training Centre, Amirsarifudin Zalman, both of whom underscored the importance of giving inmates a chance to reintegrate into society.
‘Desperation dragged me into darkness’
Chiew wasn’t the only one with a story of regret. Among those freed was Azmi, 57, who had been jailed for stealing a mobile phone to sell.
Before this, I worked part-time as a translator. But when my once comfortable family life turned into hardship, desperation for money dragged me into the dark world,” he admitted.
Unlike Chiew, Azmi remains single, but he too views the PBSL programme as his ticket to a new beginning.
