KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 11 — Convicts serving sentences in prison will be given the opportunity to further their studies until Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) and Master’s Degree soon.
Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Datuk Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said the Prisons Department was in discussions with public and private institutes of higher learning to identify the suitable courses.
“We have told the universities to state the suitable courses for the convicts. This is their opportunity to be useful and educated,” he said replying to a supplementary question from Senator S. Bagiam Ayan Perumal who asked whether the ministry monitor juvenile offenders and convicts who wish to pursue studies in schools and universities.
Prisons Department statistics showed that 409 convicts were taking courses at vocational training centres and 20 were studying for Bachelor’s degrees in private institutes of higher learning (IPTS).
Wan Junaidi said up to August this year, some 1,548 people were involved in juvenile crime, 29,382 were involved in youth crime and 57 were involved in juvenile gangsterism.
They were arrested in Ops Cantas Khas launched on Aug 17 aimed at tracing, monitoring and preventing gangsterism and secret societies activities, the Dewan Negara heard. — Bernama
