25/12/2025

THURSDAY | DEC 25, 2025 3 ‘Former inmates deserve another chance’ PETALING JAYA: The greatest obstacle facing inmates on the road to rehabilitation is not prison walls or barbed wire but the psychological and emotional barriers they carry within themselves, said CPFA president Gnadass Amaldass. Many struggle to escape what he calls an “inner prison” – a state of self-imposed bondage shaped by guilt, regret, denial and despair – even as they serve their sentences. “Many inmates remain stuck in the past, replaying their mistakes over and over again. Some regret their actions deeply, others live in denial or blame others. “Over time, many sink into depression, lose their self-esteem and believe they will never regain the trust or respect of their families and society,” said Amaldass. CPFA volunteers hold weekly prison visits focused on emotional, spiritual and psychological healing, helping inmates see their time as an opportunity for personal transformation. “Our sessions share a simple but powerful message – that a new life and better future are possible,” Amaldass said, adding that inmates are encouraged to grow physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually while incarcerated. Inmates are guided to confront their past honestly, seek forgiveness and focus on inner change before attempting to rebuild relationships. “The idea is for prison to become the turning point in their lives. If they can show genuine change, all they need is another chance to prove it,” he said, adding that beyond structured counselling, the regular presence of volunteers itself is crucial. “In a place where silence and isolation can feel heavier than the walls, the simple act of showing up becomes deeply meaningful. It tells them they are not forgotten and that they still belong to a wider human family.” Through conversation, prayer and spiritual reflection, volunteers bring messages of mercy and forgiveness into an environment often marked by loneliness and guilt. “That brief human connection can restore dignity and remind inmates they are seen, valued and never beyond hope.” Many inmates come from broken family backgrounds and grew up without stable emotional or moral foundations, said Amaldass. Some crimes, he added, resulted from impulsive decisions made during moments of emotional turmoil. “Our faith-based approach helps inmates return to basic values and principles – whether through religion or spiritual reflection – that encourage responsibility, self-discipline and compassion. “Such inner transformation often leads to visible changes in behaviour, attitudes and outlook, increasing the likelihood of successful reintegration after release.” Amaldass said looking beyond prison walls, fear of rejection dominates inmates’ thoughts as their release date approaches. “Many worry whether their families will accept them back or whether employers will offer them work,” he said. Initiatives such as the Jalinan Kasih programme which promotes reconciliation between inmates and their families and expanded skills training programmes within prisons, are helping address these fears. Amaldass urged the public to adopt a compassionate attitude towards former inmates, stressing that punishment should end once a sentence is served. “No one is perfect. All of us make mistakes – some get caught. If former inmates can prove they have changed and are committed to rebuilding their lives, they deserve the opportunity to start again,” he said. He also appealed to families to respond with forgiveness rather than rejection, warning that exclusion and stigma can push former inmates further to the margins of society. – By Harith Kamal and Kirtinee Ramesh

Volunteers bring hope to prisoners, families

o NGO organises visits to non-Muslim inmates nationwide to offer counselling, motivation and to facilitate rehabilitation and reconciliation efforts

Women’s Prison, which for more than 20 years has provided baby food and essential supplies to incarcerated mothers and their children housed in the prison nursery. “Sometimes it is not grand gestures that matter most, but simply showing up. For many inmates, that human presence reminds them they have not been forgotten,” said Amaldass. CPFA’s work extends to families left behind, many of whom lose their sole breadwinner overnight. Requests for help often come directly from inmates concerned about their children’s education and basic needs. Currently, CPFA volunteers are assisting 15 families with school supplies, groceries, transport and emotional support, regardless of race or religion. The association also sponsors educational opportunities for inmates, with two currently pursuing online degree programmes while still incarcerated at Kajang Prison. “These families are trying to survive under difficult circumstances. Our role is to ensure their lives are not derailed,” said Amaldass. Reintegration remains one of the most challenging stages for former inmates, many of whom face rejection, unemployment and homelessness upon release. To ease the transition, CPFA collaborates with partner organisations to place released inmates in halfway homes – former male inmates at the Second Chance Community Home in Kuala Lumpur and women at the Domus Pacis Halfway Home. CPFA also helps with transport, basic meals and clothing for those leaving prison with nothing.

Ű BY KIRTINEE RAMESH AND HARITH KAMAL newsdesk@thesundaily.com

“Inmates may be serving a sentence, but their families often serve a silent one outside the prison walls.” In its early years, the Kajang parish prison concentrated on simple acts of compassion – listening, praying and accompanying inmates in both male and female prisons. As awareness grew, volunteers from other parishes joined, leading to the formation of the “Archdiocesan Prison Ministry” in 1998, with around 130 volunteers, including priests, serving inmates and their families. The establishment was registered in 2010 as the Catholic Prison Fellowship Association Selangor and in 2014 expanded to include Penang and Malacca-Johor, becoming the Catholic Prison Fellowship Association. Today, CPFA works closely with parishes and volunteers to deliver consistent outreach in prisons nationwide. Within prisons, volunteers conduct weekly visits offering spiritual guidance, counselling and motivation. These sessions help inmates rebuild self worth, confront past mistakes and find meaning during incarceration. Mass is celebrated during major religious seasons such as Easter and Christmas while bibles in various languages are distributed to support spiritual growth. Among CPFA’s longest-running initiatives is the Mother and Child Care Project at Kajang

PETALING JAYA: While inmates are dealing with incarceration, the pain and struggle often extends to their family members outside prison walls and for nearly four decades the Catholic Prison Fellowship Association (CPFA) has been a lifeline. For non-Muslims inmates and their loved ones grappling with loss, stigma and uncertainty, the faith-based organisation – known in parishes as the “Catholic Prison Ministry” – has provided hope, guidance and support since 1985. Founded as a small parish initiative at the Church of the Holy Family in Kajang, CPFA was inspired by Irish missionary nun Sister Catherine O’ Sullivan, who mobilised a group of volunteers to visit inmates at the Kajang Prison Complex and extend help to vulnerable families affected by imprisonment. What began with just 12 volunteers has evolved into a structured social service movement across the Kuala Lumpur, Penang and Malacca-Johor dioceses, with volunteers visiting prisons throughout Peninsular Malaysia. “Our focus is rehabilitation and reconciliation,” said CPFA president Gnadass Amaldass. They were not headline-grabbing gifts but when handed to him inside the overcrowded, dehumanising confines of the then-Pudu Prison, they restored something fragile yet vital – his sense of self-worth. That small act set him on a decades-long mission to help men leaving prison, often with few options and many barriers to rebuilding their lives. Now 73, Lew runs the faith-based Second Chance Community Home in Kuala Lumpur which has helped over 300 former prisoners and recovering addicts reintegrate into society. His own journey was turbulent – having worked in insurance and car rental, economic pressures and personal mistakes led to his arrest in 1987. At Pudu Prison, he endured overcrowded cells, poor sanitation, dim lighting, bucket toilets and a system that stripped inmates of their identities. Upon his release in 1989, he tried to rejoin the workforce but his criminal record proved a barrier. Instead, he volunteered with Malaysian Care – the NGO that had given him the underwear in prison – delivering aid to prisoners’ families. After more than a decade in prison outreach and leadership roles, he founded Second Chance Community Home in 2008 to help others rebuild their lives. “They came from many backgrounds – former prisoners, ex-graduates from Pusat Serenti and others in need. “They knew my work and came asking for help,” he said. The home offers a structured, supportive environment to guide men from incarceration

Fresh start after life behind bars KUALA LUMPUR: Two simple pieces of clean underwear changed the course of Daniel Lew’s life.

Lew runs the faith based Second Chance Community Home in Kuala Lumpur, which has helped over 300 former prisoners and recovering addicts reintegrate into society. – ADAM AMIR HAMZAH/THESUN

allocated for the Madani Second Chance initiative to help vulnerable groups like ex-drug addicts, single mothers and scam victims rebuild their lives, providing support, start-up incentives and faster pathways to recovery, Malaysia’s prison system has long struggled with overcrowding and high recidivism. Recent figures put the national recidivism rate at 16% – below the global benchmark of 20%, but still a significant social challenge. Programmes supporting inmates’ transition back into the community have shown strong results. Some community-based reintegration initiatives report re-offending rates as low as one in 800 participants, while halfway homes and parole programmes boast high success rates. Yet even with these gains, ex-prisoners face daunting barriers – stigma, employer bias, unstable housing, fractured family ties and limited emotional support – which is why, for Lew, Second Chance is more than just a halfway home. – By Harith Kamal and Kirtinee Ramesh

towards meaningful citizenship. Residents are often referred through the Licensed Prisoner Release programme which allows selected inmates to serve part of their sentence under supervised community release. The facility houses up to 15 residents at a time who tend vegetable patches, assist with maintenance and support one another as they navigate life outside prison. “The environment is very important,” Lew said. “When they come here, it’s already different. Many fail not because they don’t want to change but because they don’t have support. “Some return to places where temptation is everywhere. How are they supposed to survive like that?” Despite its impact, the home operates on limited resources, relying largely on personal networks and quiet donors rather than large fundraising drives. That could change next year, said Lew. Under the Budget 2026, RM15 million was