PUNCAK BORNEO: Sarawak has achieved the lowest recidivism rate in the country, a feat attributed to effective rehabilitation programmes and strong community involvement.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said that thanks to the efforts of the Sarawak Prisons Department, the recidivism rate in Sarawak stood at 12.7 per cent in 2023.
“The prison overcrowding rate is at -13.2 per cent, which is much better compared to the international standard rate.
“The achievement of four key performance indicators (KPIs) overcrowding rate, remand rate, recidivism rate, and imprisonment rate meets international standards.
“The recidivism rate among participants of community rehabilitation programmes is only 0.24 per cent, which is far lower than the general inmate recidivism rate of 18.6 per cent,” he said.
He said this when officiating at the Sri Kenyalang Songket Complex at Puncak Borneo Prison here today.
Saifuddin said the achievement reflects the success of modern prison management, which goes beyond merely detaining offenders.
“If prisons are only seen as places to detain offenders, their function will remain limited. Modern prisons must focus on social rehabilitation,” he said.
He explained that the ministry uses recidivism, the rate of repeat offences among former inmates as a key benchmark to measure the effectiveness of rehabilitation programmes.
“This is a major achievement that other states can learn from,” he added.
Saifuddin said the success is not solely due to prison management but also involves the active participation of various stakeholders, including communities, government agencies, NGOs and social development councils.
He highlighted several initiatives, such as community rehabilitation programmes, parole, licensed release, and mandatory attendance orders, which help former inmates reintegrate smoothly into society.
“This is not the work of prisons alone. It requires community acceptance and collaboration.
“Sarawak has shown that when communities are involved, the chances of inmates repeating offences are significantly reduced,” he stressed.
Saifuddin added that such collaborative efforts ensure that inmates are not only rehabilitated during incarceration but are also given opportunities to build a new life upon their release.
