Youths and Sports Minister Syed Saddiq to Hire Ex-Criminals

Would you consider hiring someone with a criminal record? Most companies wouldn't, but our very own Youth and Sports Minister will be offering ex-convicts a rare second chance: an opportunity to work at his office!

Syed Saddiq Abdul Rahman will offer three former convicts this opportunity as an initiative to change the stigma and negative perception on the group, Bernama reported. Syed Saddiq said the former convicts were youth who had completed their jail sentence to work with him within a certain period of time, to be determined later.

As told by The Star, the initiative was part of the ‘Yellow Ribbon’ campaign implemented by the ministry. The campaign aims to change the public’s perception of former convicts, especially among youth, and thus giving them a second chance in life.

The Youths and Sports minister said he will personally monitor the former convicts. “We need to walk the talk. If I officiate this campaign but not doing anything about it, then how can I expect the private sector and the community to accept former convicts,” Syed Saddiq told reporters after launching the programme at the Sungai Buloh Prison last Friday.

Implemented in collaboration with the Prisons Department, the Home Ministry and non-governmental organisations, the programme was aimed at creating awareness for the community, as well as enhancing support systems for former convicts.

Syed Saddiq said that if the former convicts were able to perform well in his office, it would prove that the community could also accept and support them.

The minister also said he would hold talks with related parties from the government and private sector to find a better solution for former convicts to start anew after they had completed serving time.

He said it was unfair when youth who committed a mistake were marginalised after being released from the prison while they had a long future ahead and needed support to prevent from repeating the offenses.