But now at 39, Malik is a free man. Detained under the pleasure of the ruler, he could only be released through a royal pardon, which was granted in December 2024 in conjunction with Selangor ruler, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah's birthday.
On Feb 4 this year, Malik made headlines after he was granted an audience with the ruler for his achievement as the first inmate in Malaysia to earn a doctorate while serving a prison sentence.
In an interview with Malaysiakini, Malik shared how freedom was not his only motivation to pursue excellence in education but a vision to better himself.
Reminiscing his past, Malik’s life was consumed by uncertainty.
Born in Sabah, Malik left school and his home state at the age of 14, hoping to lift his family out of poverty.
Lured by dreams of a stable job as a restaurant cook in Selangor, Malik’s “new life” turned out to be...