ALOR SETAR, OCT 20 – Former life prisoner Khairul Anuar Zakaria described spending more than 23 years in prison as a ‘valuable’ experience because he had the opportunity to learn to know himself to become a better person today.
Khairul Anuar, 64, affectionately nicknamed Abah Hayat, said he had begun to know God and was able to share knowledge with others as a result of being educated by a religious teacher in prison.
“If you look at it literally, prison is a form of severe punishment for those who do wrong, but it is up to you whether you want to be better or otherwise.
“In prison, prisoners are allowed to learn a variety of knowledge, ask for books to read, there are teachers who are ready to help, so I use that opportunity to increase my religious knowledge and my family also gives solid support from the outside,” he said when met by reporters at his home in Padang Hasan Village, Bukit Pinang, Kedah.
Abah Hayat said before his release from Pokok Sena Prison on October 3, he had prepared himself to return to society and wanted to guide young people so that they would not get caught up in the crime scene that would ultimately destroy their future.
“While in prison, I was given the task of being a teacher’s assistant and I met many young prisoners in their 20s who were involved in crime. It’s sad to see the children of Abah’s people become like that and it’s even sadder when someone gets out but goes back to prison.
“I don’t blame them completely, because I admit that it is not easy for these ex-convicts to be accepted by society, I myself am going through this situation, and it is very difficult especially for those who cannot stand the allegations,” he said.
Abah Hayat said he had indeed committed a very big mistake, but had served the sentence set by wise judges and life in prison had taught him a great lesson.
Asked about his hopes, Abah Hayat said he wants to stand out so that he is better known, so that his story can be used as a lesson and is ready to be invited by any party to share his experience, because he believes that way he can help the community.
Abah Hayat said that for now he is actively sharing on the social media site TikTok with the help of children who give him full support, to continue his work as a teacher even after he is out of prison.
In 2008, Abah Hayat was sentenced to death by hanging after being found guilty of murdering a blacksmith with the victim’s body cut into eight parts, before being pardoned by the Sultan of Kedah in May 2018 and the status of the prisoner finally changed to a life sentence.
In February 2024, his case was brought back to the Alor Setar Court because the government had abolished the life sentence for all prisoners and his sentence was replaced by 35 years in prison from the date of his arrest in 2001. – Bernama
