Malik Yatam earns first Malaysian PhD while in prison

Dr. Malik Yatam has made history as the first prisoner in Malaysia to earn a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Business Administration while serving a sentence at Kajang Prison. His achievement was highlighted during the launch of his book, ‘PhD Dari Penjara’, which chronicles his life journey before, during, and after incarceration.

Sultan Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, attended the book launch and expressed satisfaction that the second chance provided to Malik through a royal pardon was well-utilized. Malik was originally imprisoned in 2001 following a conviction related to the death of his employer, an incident stemming from workplace exploitation. After serving 24 years under Sultan's Residual Detention, he was granted a full pardon on December 11, 2024.

The Malaysia Book of Records (MBOR) has recognized Malik’s achievement for documenting the process of writing a PhD while in prison. His story serves as an example of how education and personal transformation can facilitate reintegration into society.