By Anna Farina Abdul Rauf
SHAH ALAM, Feb 11 — For Dr Malik Yatam, better known as Dr Murad, receiving a royal pardon from the Sultan of Selangor marked the most meaningful moment of his life — not simply because it brought freedom, but because it came with a responsibility to change.
After spending more than two decades in prison since 2001, Dr Murad was granted a full pardon by His Royal Highness Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah Alhaj in conjunction with the Sultan’s birthday on December 11, 2024. Today, at 40, he is recognised as the first former inmate to earn a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) while serving a prison sentence.
“This second chance is a blessing — not just freedom, but a responsibility,” he said during the Media Selangor programme ‘Siapa Tahu?’. “It’s a promise I made to Allah and to society to live differently.”
The joy of release was mixed with emotion. Prison, he said, had shaped him more than any other place.
“I grew up there. I spent more time inside than outside. I don’t miss being imprisoned, but I miss the discipline that formed me,” he said.
Self-belief and a desire to change
Born into a poor family in Sabah, Dr Murad dropped out of school at 13 and worked various jobs to support his family. At 14, his life took a dramatic turn when he was sentenced to prison as a Sultan’s Pleasure Detainee, with no fixed release date.
“I thought my life was over,” he recalled.
A turning point came in 2003 when he embraced Islam, an experience he said restored hope and gave him purpose. His desire to learn was reignited after seeing fellow inmates pursue education behind bars.
“If they could do it, I told myself I could too.”
Without even a PMR certificate, Dr Murad began by sitting for the SPM examination as a private candidate, followed by STPM. He later pursued higher education and eventually earned a PhD in Business Administration — all while incarcerated.
Studying in prison, however, came with severe limitations. There were no formal classes, no internet access and even pens and pencils were prohibited for security reasons.
“We studied with books only, and even those had to be requested through people outside. Everything else was done through letters and very limited contact,” he said.
Despite the challenges, Dr Murad credited prison officers for supporting his education.
“If they hadn’t helped, I wouldn’t have made it this far,” he said. “I promised myself this opportunity wouldn’t end with me alone.”
Now free, Dr Murad says his journey is only beginning — one shaped by discipline, faith and the belief that real change is possible, even in the most unlikely places.
