MIRI: Malaysia has for the first time executed the transfer of a foreign prisoner under Section 10 of the International Transfer of Prisoners Act 2012 (Act 754).
A Bruneian, who has served six years of his 28-year and 10-month sentence in Malaysia, was officially repatriated to Brunei Darussalam to complete the remainder of his prison term.
This transfer marks a significant milestone in Malaysia’s implementation of international prisoner exchange agreements with foreign nations.
The official handover ceremony took place on Tuesday (Feb 25) at the Sungai Tujuh Immigration, Customs, Quarantine and Security (ICQS) Complex, with representatives from both Malaysia and Brunei present to witness the event.
The prisoner, a 65-year-old Bruneian man, was convicted under Section 420 of the Malaysian Penal Code for fraud and was sentenced in Miri, on March 7, 2019.
With 19 years, 2 months, and 20 days remaining on his sentence, he will now serve the rest of his term in Brunei, starting Tuesday (Feb 25).
Attending the transfer ceremony were Senior Director of Prison Policy, Malaysian Prison Department, Ajidin Salleh; Acting Commanding Officer of Maraburong Phase 3 Prison (Brunei Darussalam), Hamdani Mohd Salleh; and Sarawak State Prison Director, Teyun Thian Eim.
In his speech, Ajidin emphasised that the transfer aligns with Section 10 of Malaysia’s International Transfer of Prisoners Act 2012 and is based on the International Prisoner Transfer Treaty signed between the Governments of Malaysia and Brunei Darussalam on August 3, 2023.
He highlighted that such international transfers provide foreign prisoners with rehabilitation opportunities in their home countries, allowing them to benefit from family support and social reintegration.
“This initiative reflects the commitment of both governments to upholding the welfare and rights of prisoners within the criminal justice systems of Malaysia and Brunei,” Ajidin stated.
The collaboration between the two nations in prisoner transfers is seen as a positive step in strengthening diplomatic relations and ensuring the well-being of incarcerated individuals.
Ajidin also expressed hopes for further collaboration between Malaysia and Brunei beyond prisoner transfers, particularly in prison management, rehabilitation programmes, and training initiatives.
“There are many areas of cooperation we can explore, including expertise exchange, human capital development, and the use of modern technology in monitoring and rehabilitating prisoners,” he added.
