STRATEGIC REFORM IN MALAYSIA’S PRISON SYSTEM MANAGEMENT: PUNISHMENT VS. REHABILITATION. A CONCEPTUAL VIEW

Abstract

This article examines the role of strategic management in shaping Malaysia’s prison reform agenda, focusing on the tension between punishment and rehabilitation. Specifically, it analyzes how institutional leadership, policy implementation, and community partnerships influence public attitudes and policy outcomes, thereby determining whether correctional practices evolve toward deterrence or reintegration. The study adopts a conceptual approach, synthesizing criminological theories (Deterrence and Rehabilitation) with organizational perspectives (Institutional Theory). A literature review of academic studies, policy documents, and recent reform initiatives provides the foundation for a conceptual framework. This framework maps the relationships between leadership, policy, partnerships, public attitudes, and policy outcomes, offering testable propositions for future empirical research. The analysis reveals significant gaps in Malaysia’s prison reform, including strong leadership but weak implementation, uneven rehabilitation programmes, and persistent societal stigma against ex-offenders. Tensions between short-term deterrence and long-term reintegration remain evident, reflecting competing philosophical orientations in correctional management. Strategic management emerges as a balancing mechanism, harmonizing punitive traditions with rehabilitative priorities through integrated leadership, consistent policy execution, and robust community partnerships. The article contributes to both theory and practice. Theoretically, it integrates criminological and institutional perspectives to explain prison reform dynamics. Practically, it highlights the need for resource allocation, performance monitoring, and community engagement to ensure reform success. By aligning leadership, policy, and partnerships, Malaysia can reduce recidivism, alleviate overcrowding, and foster humane correctional practices. This study offers a novel conceptual framework that links strategic management to the punishment–rehabilitation debate in Malaysia’s prison system. It provides a foundation for future empirical research and policy development, demonstrating how strategic choices can shape sustainable correctional outcomes.