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To Kajang for Life

Because of this change in mindset, I was able to handle
things differently from the way I used to in the past. Often
when there were squabbles among the prisoners, they would
come to me to help settle the problem. One issue was which
television programme they could watch. The prisoners knew I
was the one who managed to get sponsors to buy the television
set, so out of respect, they would consult me.
Formerly, I was inclined to take the side of the Chinese
prisoners. However, God helped me to view people differently,
and I handled the dispute in a way that was fair to all. I
proposed that the Indian prisoners watch their movies on
Saturdays; while on Sunday afternoons, the Chinese prisoners
would get to watch their channel. The Indian prisoners
would have to choose either a Hindustani or a Tamil movie
but not both, as that would deprive others of their favourite
programme. The prisoners soon respected me as they could
see that I was not biased.
In my time in Kajang Prison from 1990 to 2016, one
heartwarming episode was when I became a ‘Blue Suit’
prisoner, a first for someone on a life sentence. A Blue Suit
is a model senior prisoner with special responsibilities and
privileges.
It took me three months to get my application approved.
Many people were surprised that I was granted permission,
but it was God’s plan and not my own doing. Before this,
no prisoner on life imprisonment was allowed to be a Blue
Suit. But after I had proven myself, several others were also
promoted in other prisons around the country.
Whenever the wardens had difficulties with certain
prisoners, they would ask the Blue Suits to help out. I received
wages of just RM1 a day. It was not the amount that mattered,
but the responsibilities and status. We were equivalent to
“half a Cikgu”.
As a Blue Suit prisoner, I was allowed to accompany four
to five other prisoners from their blocks to other parts of the
prison, or escort them to see the warden, doctor or lawyer.
I would also accompany prisoners who went out to work at
factories. This meant that in one day, I could be walking some

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