Former Al-Maunah militant speaks of finding solace in prayer

“The prison is a torment of the soul, but if it could cleanse me from my sins, then I am the luckiest person.”

These were the words uttered by a male inmate of the Marang Prison in Terengganu, who wants to be known only as Ahmad.

Ahmad has been in the prison since 2008 after serving his one year and eight years sentences at the Sungai Buloh Prison and the Kajang Prison respectively.

The 49-year-old man, one of 19 Al-Maunah members convicted of treason for waging war against the Yang di-Pertuan Agong in 2000, is serving life imprisonment at the prison.

“I requested to be ‘placed’ at the Marang Prison to make it easier for my late mother to visit me as I’m from Terengganu. It was burdensome for her to travel by bus only to visit me at the previous prisons,” he said.

Ahmad was also seen fighting back the tears when recalling his late mother’s sacrifices and reminders, among them for him not to miss his daily prayers and to always recite the Quran.

He said due to that, he had completed reciting the Quran 165 times since his first day in prison and thrice during this Ramadan alone.

Recalling his days as an Al-Ma’unah member, Ahmad said he was first involved in the group when he was 28 years old.

The small-built man said at first he thought that the group was a martial-arts sect, before being brought to Perak and trained to use firearms by several individuals, including the group leader Mohamed Amin Mohamed Razali, whose life ended in the prison gallows.

“I was once a mechanic and a welder. Joining the group is a bad and unforgettable experience for me, even after almost 20 years,

“However, I also learnt to be grateful for many things… I have to stay positive,” said Ahmad who lost his father and mother in 2001 and 2017 respectively.

Being an inmate had also helped Ahmad unearth his carpentry skills.

He always receives high praises for his meticulous workmanship in making various types of furniture, such as beds, cupboards, decorative mirrors and chairs.

- Bernama