Suba (left) and Azroy are among 96 people released early from Kluang Prison ahead of Deepavali, giving both the chance to reunite with their families. (Bernama pic)KLUANG: For one father, the hardest part of prison was not simply being confined - it was being away from his family, especially his five children, while the days towards Deepavali seemed to move slowly.

The 47-year-old, who wishes to be known as Azroy, had been serving a six-month sentence for drug-related offences. At times, he said, the separation became so overwhelming, he would cry alone while counting down the days until he could return home.

That return came sooner than expected: he was among 96 individuals freed from Kluang Prison by the prisons department's licence-based release programme - a community-based rehabilitation initiative - after passing the required assessments and screening.