KOTA BARU: A popular modern dikir barat singer, who was recently detained in south Thailand for alleged drug possession, has started learning the Thai language while being incarcerated in a Narathiwat prison.
Narathiwat provincial prison penologist specialist (female wing) chief Panata Yononarongdetkul said the 29-year-old singer began her classes last month.
The classes were taught by the prison's officers and staff members.
"The Malaysian singer is interested in learning the Thai language and therefore she, along with her two friends who are also from Malaysia, have decided to join the class.
"The classes are held anytime when the prison officers or staff members are free. She (the singer) looks happy and cheerful when learning the language."
Panata said the language class was offered as an initiative to fill the prisoners' free time.
It is understood that many Malaysian women were sent to prison overseas after being caught with drugs. Most of them were allegedly duped by drug syndicates to become drug mules.
The Narathiwat provincial authorities gained attention after six Malaysians, including the popular dikir barat singer, were arrested in Sungai Golok on Nov 1.
The singer, who is from Kelantan, and the other five that included her husband, were detained by Thai police for allegedly possessing 6,000 pills during a raid on a hotel.
Following their arrests, the Narathiwat court granted police further detention orders of three months or up to 84 days against the six beginning Nov 4.
Narathiwat prison director Superintendent Surin Chantep yesterday said the six Malaysians must undergo seven interrogations before facing charges in court.
He explained that this was part of Thailand's legal process to ensure thorough gathering of information.
He said so far, all individuals had completed five interrogation sessions, with the fifth conducted via video conference yesterday.