In 2016, policeman Abdullah’s world crumbled around him. While at work, he was arrested, charged with terrorism-related offences and eventually sentenced to 12 years in prison. His daughter was just two years old at the time.
Born in Sentul, Kuala Lumpur, Abdullah had followed in his father’s footsteps and joined the Royal Malaysian Police. He loved his work, which varied from sentry and surveillance to checkpoint duties, crime prevention rounds and help desk tasks. “I met people from all walks of life during this time, and although the job was demanding, I found immense satisfaction in serving the public.”
But after just nine months, a disagreement with a superior led to his transfer to the transport unit. “I had more free time on my hands. I began hanging out with friends more often, and through them developed political interests that ended up with us joining several online chat groups linked to radicalization.”
Abdullah was eventually charged under the SOSMA Act, specifically Section 130J (Supporting Terrorism) and Section 130M (Having Information).
Abdullah found himself facing a long sentence, separated from everyone he loved and with bleak future employment prospects. “It was a crushing blow that shattered my family’s hopes and my own,” he said.
With his life in tatters, Abdullah was more vulnerable to radicalization than ever – and his story is far from unique. Prison can act as a recruiting ground, even for those not yet exposed to radical influences. The combination of poor conditions, a lack of meaningful activity and large numbers of people living in close proximity while at their lowest point creates a high-risk situation. As almost all prisoners will eventually be released, this is dangerous for society as a whole.
But it is not inevitable. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) is working with Malaysian authorities to change the course of prisoners’ lives, setting them on a better path. Since 2018, UNODC has collaborated with national partners to prevent and counter violent extremism and support an ambitious programme of penal reform. The eventual aim is to ensure that offenders are rehabilitated and able to reintegrate into society following their sentence.
For Abdullah, rehabilitation programmes kept him afloat while in prison. “I participated in various programmes, including spiritual guidance, physical training, counselling, anger management and skill enhancement courses. These interventions helped me cope with the challenges of prison life.”
More than that, they helped him imagine a better future. “Two years before my release, I enrolled in a fish-rearing programme where I gained valuable skills and knowledge about the industry. I attended classes on business planning, finance and the administration of a business entity, and I resolved to start a small business upon my release.”
UNODC’s prison reform work with Malaysian authorities has helped lay the foundations for the programmes benefitting prisoners like Abdullah. For example, one of the most pressing issues facing prisons in Malaysia – and indeed worldwide – is overcrowding. Overcrowded prisons can lead to poor prison health, deteriorating facilities and unsafe conditions, factors can help radicalism to spread. UNODC is working with national authorities to improve prison conditions and address overcrowding, including by promoting non-custodial measures, like parole and reintegration.
UNODC has also trained prison staff across Malaysia to put international prison standards into practice, such as the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners – the Nelson Mandela Rules. These rules lay out how prisons can operate safely, securely and effectively in the 21st century while respecting human rights and offer the foundations for all other rehabilitative interventions.
Abdullah was struck by the impact of prison staff on his experience. “The prison officers were professional and supportive throughout,” he said. They were there for him at his lowest moment: when his wife filed for divorce. Relationship ruptures such as this are common during incarceration and can make social reintegration following imprisonment all the more challenging.
“It felt like everything I had hoped for had been taken away. But with the constant support of counsellors, I found a way to remain positive, believing that everything happens for a reason.”
In 2022, after serving six years and nine months, Abdullah was released. “Despite the anticipation of freedom, my mind was flooded with uncertainty—about how I would survive, whether my family would support me, how to rebuild my life penniless, the prospect of reconnecting with my daughter and dealing with the fallout of my past.”
The transition to life outside prison has not been easy. He has found it hard to find secure employment and finds his life lagging behind those of his siblings. But Abdullah is grateful for the support he has received to reintegrate and is hopeful for the future. He works hard in his job as a delivery driver, rebuilds his relationship with his daughter and gives talks to help others avoid his mistakes.
“My message to the younger generation is simple but important: your choices today will shape your future.”
UNODC works with over 50 Member States around the world on prison and penal reform. We aim to reduce the scope of imprisonment, strengthen prison management and improve prison conditions, and foster the social reintegration prospects of offenders. Find out more or sign up to hear more about our work.
With thanks to the Malaysian prison department for our collaboration, and our donor the Government of Japan.
