Singer and composer Yasin Sulaiman has apologised to the Malaysian Prisons Department and withdrawn his previous claims that inmates could easily obtain drugs while serving their sentences.
Yasin said the remarks he made during a recent podcast and interview were based solely on his personal experiences while he was incarcerated.
He explained that his comments reflected what he experienced and understood during that period.
Yasin also said he was experiencing an episode of bipolar mania at the time before being ordered to undergo psychiatric treatment at Hospital Bahagia Ulu Kinta in Ipoh, Perak.
“My condition at the time may have influenced the way I saw, heard, understood and interpreted things happening around me.
“After taking into account the Malaysian Prisons Department’s explanation and reflecting on what I went through at the time, I hereby withdraw the statement,” he said in a Facebook post on Monday.
The Mimpi Laila singer said he regretted if his remarks had caused confusion or misunderstanding among the public.
He stressed that his account was never intended to tarnish the reputation of the Malaysian Prisons Department or undermine the work of its officers and personnel.
“I would therefore like to apologise to the Malaysian Prisons Department for the confusion that arose,” he said.
Yasin also expressed his appreciation for prison officers and personnel who carry out their responsibilities in maintaining the safety and welfare of inmates, as well as supporting rehabilitation efforts.
He said he hoped his clarification would help correct and resolve any misunderstanding arising from his earlier remarks.
The Malaysian Prisons Department had previously denied claims that inmates could easily obtain drugs while serving their sentences.
Prisons Department senior director of correctional policy, Commissioner Mohamad Rosidek Musa, said the department had strict standard operating procedures and regulations governing the entry and circulation of prohibited substances in prisons.
He added that the department continuously worked to prevent misconduct and other negative activities among inmates through security controls and rehabilitation programmes.
