Part 10/12:

My father, who was also involved with the prison system, had known Dutton and believed his efforts were genuine. Witnesses recall Dutton as a confident young man with a passion for community-building—traits that made his violent demise all the more tragic.

Reflection and Legacy

The Pulau Sanang experiment, despite its tragic end, showcased the potential—and peril—of innovative penal reform. It was a bold attempt to combine physical labor, community development, and rehabilitation to reshape the lives of convicted offenders. The project produced tangible infrastructure and, according to some metrics, cured many detainees of their violent tendencies.