“Mistakes do not end a story. Sometimes, they begin a new one.”
A father who once stumbled in life now rises with renewed dignity and hope, believing that the degree he recently completed will help reclaim his self-respect and heal the wounds caused by his past drug-related mistakes.
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Mohd Khairul Ab Aziz stated that his achievement was made possible through the support of his family, the Malaysian Prisons Department, and the lecturers who never gave up on him.
He shared that this success is not merely about holding a qualification but about redeeming himself as a former inmate. As a father to two children aged 14 and 19, he dreams that this accomplishment will one day help them understand his journey and soften the memory of his past.
Growing up in Bukit Mertajam, Mohd Khairul’s turning point came after his arrest in 2016 for drug offences. While serving time, he attended a rehabilitation programme organised by the Malaysian Association of Carers (Pengasih). Listening to stories and meeting individuals who had returned to prison dozens of times struck him deeply, he knew he did not want to be trapped in the same cycle.
With a newfound resolve, he enrolled in further studies in 2020 at the Seberang Perai Prison, just five months before his release. It was not an easy road. Internet access for learning was limited to 30 minutes per session, and many nights he sat alone by the cell fence, studying under nothing but the dim glow of the corridor light. His younger brother helped pay the fees, and once released, he pushed forward with determination to finish what he started.
Life tested him in many ways. His wife filed for fasakh during his imprisonment, adding emotional strain to an already difficult journey. Yet he refused to let pain define him.
Today, Mohd Khairul stands as the first Malaysian to conduct a study on cocaine use, with his research recognised internationally and published in the 2023 Global Cocaine Report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime in Vienna.
He says that his journey is far from over. If his circumstances allow, he hopes to continue studying to the highest possible level.
“If I can rebuild my life from a prison cell, anyone can rebuild theirs from anywhere. I have begun the journey, and I do not wish to stop."
His story is a reflection that the past may shape us, but it does not have to imprison our future. With willingness to change and the courage to try again, a second chance can be the beginning of an entirely new life.
