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Against a backdrop of razor wire and machine guns, beauty therapists at Malaysia's first "jail spa" quietly tend to their customers under the watchful eye of uniformed wardens.

Despite the tight security, the innovative Balinese-decorated spa is doing a brisk trade while giving inmates at the country's biggest women's prison a trade they can turn to after their release.

"I am not afraid at all because I have faith that these prisoners are well trained to serve the customers and our safety is assured here," said Noor Aliza Osman, 45, on her second visit to the spa at Kajang Prison.

"It is comfortable here, the prices are reasonable and I don't have to wait too long to get my hair done like at other salons," said the mother of four who was having her hair colored with henna by 30-year-old prisoner "Farah".

With her hair neatly tied back and dressed in a loose green jacket and trousers, Farah looked like any other beauty therapist, apart from the prisoner identification number sewn onto her uniform.

"I am very glad to have this chance and I have regular customers here who have been kind enough to ask me to work for them once I am released, as they have become familiar with me," she said with a smile.

Farah - using an assumed name at the request of prison authorities - is an Indonesian citizen who worked as a waitress before overstaying her visa in Malaysia and being sentenced to one year in jail.

She is among seven prisoners currently working at the spa, who go through four security checkpoints each morning to reach the salon from their cells a few hundred meters away.

The salon has welcomed a steady stream of customers since opening late last year, offering head-to-toe beauty services such as facials, pedicures, foot reflexology and massages for as little as 30 ringgit ($8.5).

"The response has been overwhelming so far," said the prison's chief inspector Fauziah Husaini.

"Many customers were hesitant to come to a prison at the beginning but ... this program can change public perception about prisoners so they will be easily accepted by the society in future," she said.

Questions:

1. Where is the spa located at?

2. How many prisoners work at the spa?

3. How cheap are some of the massages offered at the spa?

Answers:

1. Kajang prison.

2. 7.

3. $8.5.

（英语点津 Helen 编辑）

About the broadcaster:

Chantal Anderson is a multimedia journalist at the China Daily Web site. Originally from Seattle, Washington she has found her way around the world doing photo essays in Greece, Mexico and Thailand. She is currently completing a double degree in Journalism and International Studies from the University of Washington.