BANGI, Oct 2 — Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming said today that former inmates certified with the Malaysian Skills Certificate deserve a second chance to rebuild their lives while helping the country reduce its reliance on foreign workers.
He described the strategy as a “two-pronged” approach that both uplifts former prisoners and strengthens the nation’s workforce.
“Firstly, we are producing graduates from prison who are given a second chance, a new lease of life.
“Secondly, we are reducing our dependence on foreign workers in the country’s public cleansing sector,” he told reporters after officiating the Solid Waste Management and Public Cleansing Corporation’s (SWCorp) fourth convocation ceremony here.
At the event, 243 participants from the Malaysian Prison Department received their Malaysian Skills Certificate in Public Cleansing Manual Operations after eight months of training under the “Sinar di Sebalik Tirai Besi” (Light Behind Bars) programme.
Nga noted the timing is crucial, as Selangor and Penang are set to adopt the Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Act 2007 (Act 672) next year, which will increase the demand for skilled workers in the sector.
“One of the resources we can tap into is inmates. If they are not given a second chance, the likelihood of them reoffending becomes a risk and a burden to society,” he said.
The programme, which has been running since 2023, has already produced over 1,100 graduates. Some former inmates from earlier cohorts have already secured jobs with waste management concessionaires like Alam Flora and SWM Environment.
Nga stressed that changing public perception is also critical.
“This sector should not be seen as lowly work, but as a professional industry supported by skilled workers and modern technology,” he said, urging graduates to become “agents of change.”
Looking ahead, SWCorp intends to expand its training programmes to cover areas such as sanitary landfill management, construction waste services, and handicrafts to further broaden opportunities for inmates preparing to reintegrate into society.
