SHE was a successful career woman in a senior managerial position and from a good family background. But temptation got the better of Ann when she was tasked to handle the company’s finances — she fraudulently misused the company funds. Ann was convicted of criminal breach of trust and is now serving a two-year jail term at Kajang Women’s Prison. Ann, who was used to the comforts of a relatively easy life, received a rude shock at life behind bars.

“It was a terrible blow and a culture shock. Here, I was — an office executive for 22 years and from a decent family — in the company of criminals. I could not come to terms with the fact that I was now one of ’them’,” says the 46-year-old mother of two.

But within a year of her sentence, Ann learnt to adapt, drawing strength from the experiences of her fellow inmates and accepting the guidance of the prison wardens.

“I learnt a lot, especially about my weaknesses. I slowly began to accept thefact that I was in prison and the only thing I could do was redeem myself. It is a humbling experience.” Ann, who is a business graduate, was roped into the prison’s frozen food manufacturing sector, something she never dreamt of doing given her “dislike for cooking or frozen food".

But being business-savvy, she grabbed the opportunity to make the most of prison life by learning new skills.

“I did not even know how to shape curry-puff pastry, now I am an expert at it. And I have also learnt to make char kway (fried crullers), my favourite snack.

“I have learnt so much after only three weeks in the programme and it gives me hope that there is still a future for me when I leave the prison,” adds Ann, who is due to be released in December. The vocational skills training programme, such as the one Ann is involved in, was introduced in Kajang Women’s Prison in November 2007 to equip the inmates with skills to start life anew outside its walls.

“Once inmates have served their time here, it’s not easy for many to start afresh as they are often shunned by society and sometimes their families.

“And in many cases, when they do not get support from the community, they fall back into their old ways and end up here again,” says Kajang Women’s Prison public relations officer Inspector Norhashimah Hashim.

Under the programme, the inmates learn skills such as batik painting and printing, hair styling, massages and facials, reflexology, making cakes and pastries, catering, craft work, tailoring and graphic design.

Norhashimah says the inmates are only allowed to join the skills training workshops upon the completion of the rehabilitation programmes, which include spiritual or group counselling and motivational talks conducted by non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

Apart from skills training, those who are illiterates are taught to read and write.

“We select them for the respective courses based on their interest. But not all are keen to learn a skill. Some prefer to remain idle,” she adds.

The workshops are usually conducted by trained prison employees and the inmates employed at the workshops are paid a daily allowance, one-third of which goes into their savings.

She says that the response from the public to the products has been encouraging because of their quality and relatively cheap prices.

“Our salon and spa especially are popular and we often have a long waiting list of clients, including those from other parts of the Klang Valley. The massage only costs RM50 here,” adds the prison’s industrial officer Inspector Zahirah Mohd Hashim.

Frozen food such as curry puffs, cucur badak, mini murtabak, pulut panggang and doughnuts are popular and are even marketed in several hypermarkets in the Klang Valley and Malacca. The prison also does a catering business but the inmates only prepare the food while the actual catering is done by prison employees.

“Our batik is also popular and many organisations, such as Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia and Puspanita are among our clients,” adds Zahirah.

The inmates are kept busy in the months leading to Hari Raya due to the large orders for cookies and cakes, and those wanting to have their baju kurung stitched for only RM30 per set.

Former hotel steward Rita, who has proven to be a good seamstress, hopes to open her own tailoring shop in her hometown when she completes her jail term in 2012.

“Although I used to be an assistant cook in a hotel, I picked up tailoring as that is my real interest and it’s more challenging than cooking,” says the 49-year-old mother of two, who is serving time for possession of drugs.

While she regrets her past, Rita looks upon her prison term as a blessing in disguise.

“I have learnt much more in prison. I have acquired a new skill. I have learnt to be disciplined and independent. I have learnt to save. I believe I have a brighter future with these skills,” adds Rita.

Suzie, 24, has spent the last three years behind bars for a range of offences including pimping.

The former food stall operator and single mother of two joined the frozen food workshop barely a month ago and is determined to learn all that she can about the business as she hopes to continue her food catering business.

“I want to be a successful businesswoman and prove to society that I have changed. Society can be cynical about people like us and I want to prove it wrong.” Suzie admits that the first two years behind bars were the most painful for her as her family could not accept what she had done.

“They did not visit me or make contact with me although I wrote numerous letters to them asking for their forgiveness. I missed my children very much. But just when I had given up hope, my family and children made a surprise visit on Mother’s Day last year.

“I couldn’t believe it because I thought they did not want to have anything to do with me anymore. I was speechless, especially when I saw my children. I promised them I would turn over a new leaf and I will keep my word.” Zahirah says the skills that the inmates learn usually holds them in good stead once they are out of prison and many are now successfully running their own businesses.

“What’s important is for society to give them a chance and support them. If they are successful in what they do, there is no reason for them to lapse,” she adds. Like Ann, many of these inmates feel they have been given a new lease on life.

“I know there is a good future for me out there as I can envision a market for frozen food. “We have been given this opportunity to change for the better but the initiative has to come from us. As long as we have the will, all will be well,” she adds.

â— Names of prisoners have been changed for confidentiality.