Fancy pampering yourself in prison?
Malaysia's Kajang Women's Prison Spa and Salon offers treatments at under half the going rate. -NST
Sat, Dec 06, 2008
New Straits Times
By Alang Bendahara
KAJANG, MALAYSIA: The constant barrage of bad economic news and reports of rising prices are enough to stress anyone out. And many women would love a spa day, but with tightening family budgets it isn't an option. Until now
The Kajang Women's Prison Spa and Salon is offering treatments at under half the going rate.
Prison director Assistant Prison Commissioner Zainah Pardi said the spa started out as an in-house training programme for women prisoners to teach them skills they could use to earn a living after their release.
"As their skills improved, they started serving the prison guards and their immediate families. The demand grew, so we decided to set up a spa for the public," she said after the opening yesterday.
National Association of Wives of Civil Servants and Women Civil Servants (Puspanita) head Puan Sri Wan Noorlina Wan Hussin opened the spa in the presence of Prisons Department director-general Datuk Mustafa Osman.
Zainah gave credit to Mustafa as one of the movers behind the project. She said it stemmed from his desire to equip the prisoners with more skills through various training workshops.
From today, seven prisoners in batik baju kurung will be on duty seven days a week from 8am to 5pm at the spa and salon located within the prison complex. Zainah said the service they offered was on par with other spas and salons in the city.
"The prisoners working at the centre received training from our staff who attended courses with experts in the field. The centre is newly-built at a cost of RM75,000 (S$31,500). It is fully air-conditioned with carpeted floors and new equipment."
Zainah said the treatments cost about 40 per cent less than at other spas in the city.
"A facial treatment is RM80 outside, and only RM50 here. The all-in-package, which costs RM850 outside is only RM450 here."
She stressed there was nothing to fear from receiving treatments from the women prisoners.
"Those selected are in for non-serious crimes and have shown good behaviour and discipline during their detention. Three prison staff supervise the women."
Zainah said they hope to make RM5,000 a month. Of every RM100 earned, RM40 would go to the prisoners and the rest into a government fund.
She said if this spa was a success, similar businesses may be set up in other women's prisons.