Disaster Risk Management

Kausalya receiving a certificate of appreciation from FAM Dean Dr Sia Bee Chuan

A seminar titled "Disaster Risk Reduction" was held on 23 March 2016 at UTAR Sungai Long Campus. The seminar focused on the consequences of imprisonment and the rehabilitation programs for inmates.

“In order for the parole system to be effective, the inmates will need acceptance from families and public,” said Prisons Department of Malaysia Deputy Commissioner Madam Kausalya Devi Sathoo. 

Kausalya assures the participants that the inmates will undergo a tough selection process. Over 90% who were released on parole, during the past, have turned over a new leaf,” she said. However, stereotype on inmates still cause a problem.

“People are still unaware that the prison department provides rehabilitation and finding jobs for parolees,” Kausalya said. She assured that the department are constantly keeping an eye on them.

The halfway houses is one of the efforts by the department where parolees would be able to seek temporary shelter for a short period until they could be independent again.“These houses are for those who are shunned by their peers or those who want to stay away from crime,” she said.

“Although the public have contributed to the success in their integration with society, there are still struggling to make ends meet and regain acceptance from families and friends,” she said. She urged the members of the public to give them a second chance.

Kausalya Devi Sathoo is the Deputy Commissioner of the Prisons Department of Malaysia. Her area of expertise includes Prison Management Rehabilitation of Inmates and the management of parole system in the country.

She was also involved as a training officer in the Brush Farm Correctional Academy, Sydney, New South Wales in 2007 and trained by the New South Wales Parole Authority in 2008. She has 24 years of working experience in prisons and currently is pursuing her PhD at National University of Malaysia.

This seminar was organised by the Centre for Sustainable Development and Corporate Social Responsibility in Business (CSDCSR) in collaboration with the Faculty of Accountancy and Management (FAM).