Former Selangor Menteri Besar Dr Khir Toyo said he is now a changed man, after his experiences in prison.

“I’m very happy (today). I have moved past a phase in my life and I’ve learned a lot.

“This episode changed me a lot,” he told reporters after he was officially released from his parole in Klang today.

Prisons Department Parole and Community Service director Abdul Aziz Razak signed Khir’s release at the Klang parole office earlier this morning.

Khir, who was a dentist before entering politics, said he read a lot in prison, about 10 hours every day.

This has helped change the way he thinks, he said.

“I can look and think of the bigger picture. I had six months inside (prison) to read and think,” he added.

What was important to him now, Khir said, was to learn how to forgive those who have made mistakes and how to overcome mistakes.

He first visited a prison when practising as a dentist, he revealed, to provide dental services to prisoners.

'How life can turn around completely'

His second visit was as a prisoner, and he said, and this opened his eyes to how life can turn around completely.

Among the things he's learned from prison is that he has become more compassionate towards the other prisoners, he said.

“I want to plead to families who have a child or family members who enter prison, please visit them.

“I get very sad when I see prisoners who have not been visited by their families, for up to 10 years.

“I implore upon you. Don't leave them, they need help and such,” he said.

Khir added that he has even discussed with his friends about setting up a foundation to help prisoners who do not receive any visitors.

Insisting that he did not receive any special treatment in prison, Khir said that he was granted parole after six months because he abided by every rule in prison.

“In prison there are more than 200 rules. You can't lift your legs, you can't sing.

“I have never broken any rule, whether big or small.

“Some people said I got priority, but it's not right to say that. You must see my record first.

“They (the prison wardens) monitor me for six months every half-an-hour, and they record every half-an-hour,” he stressed.

Khir was originally sentenced to a one-year jail term for using his position to obtain land and a bungalow, nine years ago.

He was granted parole on March 29, after serving six months in Kajang Prison.

His remaining sentence was served at his family's house in Shah Alam and among the conditions imposed were that he was not allowed to speak to the press.

Under the parole system, the prisoner will serve his remaining sentence outside the prison and live with his family while under the supervision of a parole officer.