A Berita Harian report today highlighted the efforts of the management of the Kajang Women’s Prison in training low-risk prisoners and those serving short sentences, to provide hair care and spa services to the general public.
Behind the walls of the prison, a spa and saloon has been operating for over seven years now, offering a wide array of beauty services, with prices ranging from RM5 to RM200.
The spa is open not only to those who work at the prison, but also to members of the public, who can have their hair cut, permed or dyed.
Other services such as milk, spice and flower baths, body massages, reflexology, and sauna treatments are also available.
Managing the prison spa is Sergeant Khalipah Ab Jalil, who said the beauty spa programme there was aimed at providing skills and preparing prisoners for the outside world upon their release.
The programme is also aimed at changing the public’s perception towards inmates, especially after they have served their sentences.
She said there were prisoners who got jobs immediately after leaving due to the skills and experience they had picked up through the programme.
She added that the more senior prisoners who worked at the spa also helped train newer participants of the programme.
“All prisoners are monitored closely by the wardens while they are with customers to prevent any untoward incident.”
The prisoners also receive a small allowance, while the revenue generated by the beauty spa is channeled towards other rehabilitation programmes in prison.
Khalipah said the programme received good support from the public, especially during weekends when demand was so high that customers could be served via appointments only.
She added that based on the feedback received, the spa’s customers were happy with the level of service they received, with some even becoming regulars.