UMPSA and Malaysian Prisons Department strengthen collaborative partnership

PEKAN, 4 February 2025 – Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah (UMPSA) and the Malaysian Prisons Department (JPM) have recently strengthened their collaborative ties in advancing the TVET Agenda.

The ceremony marked a courtesy visit by the Malaysian Prisons Department, led by Deputy Commissioner General Dato’ Haji Abdul Aziz Abdul Razak, who is Exercising the Function of Commissioner General of Prisons, together with five senior officers from the department.

The delegation was welcomed by Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Student Affairs & Alumni), Professor Ts. Dr. Mohd Rusllim Mohamed, representing the UMPSA Vice-Chancellor.

At present, the collaborative programme between UMPSA and the Malaysian Prisons Department involves the provision of biofeedback devices and technical training on the technology for prison officers to support rehabilitation programmes with inmates.

According to Professor Ts. Dr. Mohd Rusllim, the use of biofeedback devices serves as a mechanism to assess the recovery level of inmates and has been implemented since 2018 under the guidance of Professor Ts. Dr. Muhammad Nubli Abdul Wahab from the Centre for Human Sciences (PSK), UMPSA.

“This meeting also offers both parties the opportunity to explore further areas for knowledge sharing, including human capital development through the organisation of seminars, workshops, lectures, and related publications,” he stated.

Other aspects include matching grants, training modules, recognition, studies, documentation, policy development, and related guidelines.

Meanwhile, Dato’ Haji Abdul Aziz noted that the biofeedback method has proven effective in aiding the emotional and mental recovery of inmates and is expected to help reduce crime rates and rehabilitate inmates towards a better path.

“This collaboration can also open up many opportunities for the development and provision of academic programmes as well as capacity-building activities involving related research and staff development,” he said.

Also discussed was a proposal to establish the SISWI Correctional Student Corps (SISKOR) among UMPSA students.

Additionally, the Malaysian Prisons Department hopes that this initiative will have a significant impact on the nation’s efforts to prevent violent crime, particularly among inmates categorised as radical.

This initiative also demonstrates the continued commitment of the Malaysian Prisons Department in seeking innovative approaches to enhance the effectiveness of inmate rehabilitation for the benefit of the nation and society.

Also present were Assistant Vice-Chancellor for Industry & Community Linkages, Professor Datin Ts. Dr. Mimi Sakinah Abdul Munaim, and Dean of the Centre for Human Sciences, Dr. Mohamad Hilmi Mat Said.

By: Siti Nur Azwin Zulkapri, Centre for Corporate Communications

Translation by: Dr Rozaimi Abu Samah, UMPSA Press