Prison inmates celebrate CNY with loved ones
KOTA KINABALU: “This time is the last one. Promise,” said the regretful Bebeng while she ‘pinky swore' by entwining her little finger with that of her mother's.
Curiosity led the 36-year-old tomboyish female to drug abuse. She was finally caught and has been in and out of prison since 2007.
“It is indeed sad. I did not will for it. But how to control, she is all grown up. I am not well-off because her dad has also been sick for years. I am not always at home to look after her,” said Bebeng's mother, who was initially shocked to learn of her daughter's substance abuse.
Bebeng's father has kidney disease and has been going for dialysis treatment at the hospital for the past four years now.
“But I am thankful too. Being here has helped her to realize and I hope in the future, she will not repeat the act,” said the mother.
When Bebeng was first sent to jail, the 51-year-old mother was fearful of the unknown conditions in prison.
However, her frequent visits to the Kota Kinabalu Women's Prison has shown her that things are not what they seem in captivity.
“I thought life in prison would be torture. When I learned of the many skills that they teach, I felt very grateful.
“At least my child will be moulded. I look forward with a great heart that she will truly become a good citizen in the future,” said the Papar housewife.
Bebeng, the fourth of nine siblings, is currently serving a three-year sentence for drug abuse. She was sent to prison in 2014 and will only be out in May 2017.
“I am learning pastry skills right now. So far, I have learned how to bake chocolate, cheese and red velvet cakes,” said the former bus driver.
“I might not go back to being a bus driver. I am getting a bit better,” added Bebeng shyly.
Bebeng was one of the female inmates given the opportunity to meet her family at the prison's inaugural Chinese New Year Celebration ‘Jalinan Kasih' program here on February 2.
Also selected for the program was a 54year-old mother.
The program allowed Su to embrace two of her three children for the first time since being sent to prison in October 2015.
“I was sent to prison because the company burned expired food,” said Su briefly.
“There were expired tinned food and biscuits. ‘They' told us to change the expiry dates but we refused. They told us they would lose money if we didn't do it, so we burned the expired food in order to claim insurance,” she explained.
Su was sentenced to five years' imprisonment and is scheduled to be out in February 2019.
“Celebrating Chinese New Year is very different in prison. My heart feels different. However, there is some good at being in prison,” said Su.
“I have yet to take up any skills because I am attending school right now. We are taught to march, learn about law. I am especially thankful to the prison officers for giving us instructions to learn law and regulations,” she added.
As part of the prison's rehabilitation and correctional efforts, the ‘Jalinan Kasih' program is intended to provide a platform for prisoners at the women's prison and Henry Gurney (Women) reform school to celebrate the festivities so they can strengthen relationships with their family members.
“Each prisoner is given an opportunity to gain awareness and self-realization while building good self-esteem. Building their self and civic awareness is important because individuals that have committed offenses and foundered have to face the community out there and greater challenges when they are free in the future,” said Sabah State Prison deputy director Nora Musa at the ceremony.
“Public acceptance of people who have once gone through rehabilitation and correction may still be lacklustre, however the prison department is doing its best to open opportunities for the community to come together to support these foundered individuals. The most important support is from immediate family members.
“The institution has also worked more to prepare inmates who underwent rehabilitation and correctional programs with a variety of skills to help them out later,” she added.