On the 16th of August 2008, I visited Sungai Buloh Prison with two friends. I have visited the Penang Prison but this was my first time to Sungai Buloh. The security was so tight that not even David Copperfield could have squeezed through those heavy metal doors. We had to go through one heavy iron door after another escorted by a prison warden. It was a totally different world in there. Then we were ushered into an office where another officer went through our papers again. But I must commend the prison officers for they were courteous and very professional. After clearance, we were taken to another room where about 50 or so prisoners had gathered.
The first song the crowd sang was "Set my spirit free, that I might worship thee, Let all bondage go that deliverance might flow!". And they were singing on top of their voices. Some were worshipping but I suspect several were just mocking the jail wardens by screaming on top of their voices!! After the singing my 2 friends shared some devotional thoughts from the Bible. Then it was my turn to speak. I stood up and asked each one of them what crime they had committed. The first one was a Chinese gentleman with a shiny clean shaven head. So what are you in here for, I asked ? With his hand he showed me the sign of a gun pointing towards me. Next? Lorry hijacking Sir! Next? criminal intimidation! Next? I slashed my neighbour with a parang!! There were also several Africans. So what are you in here for? Currency scam! Next? chopped my own passport! There were at least 5 S39B drug trafficking cases all facing the possibility of death sentences.
What do you say to those who are caught in such situations? That God is love and God is good all the time? Assuming you were there, what would you have said. I told the story of the prodigal son- where the younger son of a rich man, really messed up his life and found himself in a foreign country in a pig sty.The whole process of recovery only began when he realized his foolish lifestyle- : Accrording to the story ".. he came to himself". Looked like all the crowd in there that day had realized the error of their ways. There were also many faces of regret and sadness. One particular person put sadness in my heart- he was approaching 60's, never married in life and felt all alone in life. What was his life story?
I came away from that prison meeting with many thoughts flooding my mind. There is only one life to live and like everybodys life- it will end someday in a cemetary. There is no escaping from that destination. But in the meanwhile-we have to travel the journey with reason, caution and faith.
I will be returning to the prison again in due time - to see them and to encourage them. The mistakes have been made -I tell them that it is not the end of their lives- because God allows U -turns- I know several ex-prisoners but today they have returned to their families and some have gone back into professional lives. And if you come across any of them- don't frown on them-because they are also on God's Attention List.
25 Aug 2008
