By Salbinous Saribun

TUESDAY, 29 SEPTEMBER – Most of the prisoners who committed crime was initially because of of drugs, said the State Prisons Director, Deputy Commissioner of Prisons, Suria Haji Idris.

He said, more than 50% of the prison inmates were made up of those who committed crimes related to drugs.

“Parents would have been disappointed if their children fell into drugs, the same for those children who suffer because of the lack of love when their parents are in jail because of drugs and crime,” he said when launching the Message from Prisons Programme and Drug Abuse Counselling Seminar National Level held at the Dewan Resital (Recital Hall) Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS).

Suria said, he was sad to see the innocent little children who came to visit their parents who were serving sentence.

“My message to the public and students, appreciate the meaning of life and the sense of freedom.  Once we fell into crime and drug addiction, death is certain.  Life in prison is not a priviledged one,” he added.

The programme organised by the State Prisons Department and UMS ends tomorrow with various activities including paper presentations and forum.

Present at the opening ceremony was the Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Psychology and Education UMS, Associate Professor Dr. Christina Peter Ligadu. – (fl)