MELAKA: For the sake of her children who always provided support despite several grave mistakes, a woman is determined to change herself for the better and wants to reunite with her family.
Suriana, 42, (not her real name) is among 15 inmates of Sungai Udang Prison who were released through the Licensed Prisoner Release (OBB) under the Ihsan Madani Prisoners Release on Licence (PBSL) here today (November 9).
Suriana, who hails from Bukit Baru, said she also regretted having disappointed her children several times and breaking her promise not to repeat her mistakes to the point of neglecting them since she got involved with drugs about 15 years ago.
"This is the fifth sentence I have served since 2019 and the shortest is ten months. This time I ended up in prison because I wanted to change and surrendered to the Kandang Police Station accompanied by my eldest son who is 22-years-old.
"My children are now being cared for by my ex-husband in Terengganu and they are encouraging me to change myself for the better and after this, I will work so that I can be back with them," she told reporters here today.
Commenting further, Suriana said that life in a prison cell taught her a lot about self-reliance and self-discipline after hitting rock bottom, no thanks to drugs which led to her neglecting her children at home.
She said that because of her past record, she faced difficulties in getting a job and felt depressed, which made it difficult for her to drop the habit and still keep in touch with old friends.
"With the children growing up and when the age factor finally hit, I came to my senses and am very grateful to have been released earlier. There are even employers who want to hire me to work in their restaurants, God willing I really want to change and I am not going to disappoint my children anymore, " she said.
Meanwhile, Jay, 33, from Batu Pahat, Johor, said he was also determined to improve himself after being in and out of prison four times, especially after his family remained loyal and accepted him, where they turned up to come and take him home.
"I am happy and grateful that my family still came here and show their support for me, so I must change. I also don't want to make my mother sad and disappointed again," he said. – BERNAMA