Kota kuala muda: The recidivism rate among former prisoners who participated in the prison reintegration programme is very low, at only one relapse for every 800 prisoners released, said Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail. According to him, the rate demonstrates that the reintegration programme implemented by the Malaysian Prisons Department is highly successful.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Saifuddin explained that for every 800 former prisoners integrated back into the community, only one re-offends. This contrasts sharply with the statistics for those released without participating in a reintegration programme, where 13 out of 100 return to prison.

Saifuddin made these remarks at a press conference after officiating the Kampung Angkat (Adopted Village) MADANI Corrective Community Programme of the Malaysian Prisons Department in Kampung Teluk Nipah. He noted that the reintegration programme is aimed at prisoners convicted of minor offences and sentenced to less than three years, offering them training opportunities, particularly in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET).

The Home Minister highlighted that the programme not only assists in reducing prison overcrowding but also cuts down on operational costs. "We have 41 prisons with a current inmate population of 87,000, including 29,000 remand detainees awaiting trial. Our prison capacity is only around 72,000 to 73,000 people, but the inmates are counting 87,000, so what does that mean? Overcrowding," Saifuddin said. He further stated that relocating eligible inmates to reintegration premises could alleviate the congestion issue.