Early pardon a result of my mother's prayer - Ex-convict

Those are the words of a 50-year-old man, who wants to be known only as Ahmad, who was one of the 13 convicts from several prisons in the country who were granted an early pardon by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah in conjunction with the 63rd National Day last Monday.

Ahmad said he was sent to the Sungai Buloh Prison in 2000 after being sentenced to life imprisonment under Section 121 of the Penal Code for waging war against the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

Ahmad has served his sentence for a year in Sungai Buloh Prison before being transferred to Kajang Prison for ten years, then later to Pengkalan Chepa Prison for eight years.

“Besides my mother's continuous prayers, I also constantly pray to be freed because I want to take care of my mother who is bedridden due to illness, even though I know it was almost impossible.

“In fact, I have written an appeal to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong for five times and Alhamdullilah (Praise to Allah) I am free now,” he said when met at his house at Kampung Pulai Chondong, here yesterday.

Reiterating his experience in prison, Ahmad said he took the opportunity from his punishment to deepen his knowledge on Islam including the Quran, besides learning the art of making man and woman’s clothing in 2002.

To start a new life, Ahmad planned to provide tailoring service from home as a source of income and also to support his mother.

“I want to take care of and manage all of my mother’s needs as I have been missing the chance for 20 years due to my mistakes.

“I also want to express my gratitude to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong who bestowed the pardon, hence enabling me to be released earlier, as well as to the prison personnel who were involved in managing my release,” he added.