Fifty-two percent of the female prisoners in Malaysia are foreigners from neighbouring poorer countries, an academic research paper has revealed.

They are predominantly from Indonesia (70 percent), Thailand (15 percent), China (9 percent) and Philippines (3 percent), according to Associate Professor Dr Teh Yik Koon of the Department of Social Work in University Utara Malaysia.

Presenting her paper at the 4th International Studies Conference at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) yesterday, Teh said the most common offences committed by these foreign women were immigration-related, such as not having a work permit, entering Malaysia illegally without a visa, or not having a passport.

Her paper was based on a study of 422 female prisoners in six out of seven women's prisons and rehabilitation centres in Peninsular Malaysia in 2001.

She said that although her study was conducted three years ago, the figures are still relevant today.

The research revealed that many of these illegal immigrants were conned by unscrupulous 'agents' to accept job offers in Malaysia.

'Separate them'

Teh, a London-trained criminologist, suggested that foreign immigration offenders should be separated from Malaysian female prisoners as most of them are on short-term sentences and awaiting deportation.

"If foreign immigration offenders are removed from the female prisons, the number of Malaysian female prisoners will be much smaller and more reflective of female criminality in Malaysia."

On local female prisoners, Teh said most were from the lower income group involved in crimes like drug-related offences, thefts and other minor offences.

The number of drug offenders is the highest after immigration offenders, with 109 respondents saying they were charged for smoking and/or peddling drugs.

Other offences were khalwat (close proximity); running away from welfare homes, rehabilitation centres, the police or the court; identity card offences; prostitution and stealing.

As drug abuse is a major problem among female prisoners, Teh suggested that drug treatment programmes should be introduced in women's prisons. At present, drug programmess have only been initiated for male prisoners.

Between 1995 and 1999, the percentage of female Malaysian prisoners had declined to about 2 to 3 percent of the total prison population. Between 1991 and 1994, they had accounted for 7 to 10 percent.

"The annual admission of female prisoners (including foreigners) was relatively low."

Teh's research also revealed that between 1995 and 1999, about 45 percent of female prisoners were between the ages of 21 to 30, and that 25 percent were aged between 31 to 40 years.

Over 60 percent of the female prisoners were serving sentences of less than a year, and over 80 percent were first time offenders.

"As foreign female prisoners numbered more than local female prisoners, and most had committed immigration-related offences, it explains the short sentences served by the majority of the female prisoners."

Little education

Teh also revealed that 18 percent and 16 percent of the respondents have been abused physically and sexually respectively.

"When they were abused, they would run away from home and get involved in drugs and drinking, and finally vice activities. This is a chain problem," Teh told the conference.

Significantly, too, about 46 percent of the respondents had little or no formal education. Only about 3 percent had studied in higher educational institutions. The rest had only secondary education.

She concluded that the typical Malaysian female offender is, therefore, not a hard-core criminal or a persistent offender. They commit crimes mainly because of poverty and financial problems.

Teh also said that most of the female prisoners had some form of mental or emotional problems and that they needed help. She appealed to governmental and non-governmental organisations to help them out.

Teh added that female prisoners should be given knowledge of other health issues relating to women, such as on handling breast cancer, menopause and dietary requirements.