Penang: Yayasan Dakwah Islamiah Malaysia (YADIM) plans to implement the Nadi Ilmu Amalan Membaca (NILAM) reading programme in all 42 prisons nationwide within two years, in an effort to cultivate the reading habit among inmates. Its deputy president, Prof Dr Adi Anuar Azmin, said the project will be carried out in collaboration with the Malaysian Prisons Department and is currently being implemented in five prisons.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the pilot project is underway at Penang Prison, chosen due to its status as the oldest prison in Malaysia. The programme will subsequently be extended to the Seberang Perai Prison, Pokok Sena, and Sungai Petani prisons in Kedah, as well as Johor Bahru Prison in Johor. The NILAM programme is a MADANI society initiative aimed at encouraging inmates to engage with reading, write summaries, and appreciate moral values through the provided materials.
Adi Anuar mentioned that YADIM has contributed approximately 1,500 books to Penang Prison, supported by donations from prison officers and staff. The programme will expand to other prisons with a targeted book-to-inmate ratio of three-to-one to ensure sufficient reading materials. He explained that the NILAM programme was proposed by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in line with the MADANI concept, which stresses the importance of reading and moral values.
YADIM conducts monthly visits to prisons to interact with inmates, and feedback has been positive, with many inmates starting to read and write, including creating novels and travelogues based on their experiences. Penang Prison director Zool Fadli Ismail stated that prison staff, inmates’ families, and the public are encouraged to donate books to benefit the inmates.
Zool Fadli also explained that inmates participating in the programme will read books, prepare summaries, and deliver presentations to fellow inmates and an evaluation committee. The programme’s assessments will focus on comprehension and appreciation of the material, with top-performing inmates receiving recognition and rewards from YADIM. Books have been placed in residential blocks within the Penang Prison to facilitate easy access for inmates, allowing them to read in their cells or common areas.