BANGKOK - Dennis Ooi wants to be sent home - to a Malaysian prison. He is a convict facing 50 years in a Thai prison on a drug charge and his only wish now is to be allowed to serve out his sentence in his own country.

The 29-year-old Penangite, one of 402 Malaysian prisoners now in Thai prisons, is being held in the "Bangkok Hilton", the nickname for Bang Kwang Central Prison in Thailand, reputedly one of the most notorious prisons around.

Ooi feels that after serving time in the prison, any jail in his homeland would be most welcome.

Along with other Malaysians in Thai prisons, he has appealed to the Malaysian Government to sign a transfer treaty with Thailand to enable them to finish their jail term in their homeland.

There is hope for them.

Malaysia and Thailand are expected to sign a prisoner transfer agreement soon covering those currently on death row or serving long sentences.

Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim said his Thai counterpart Kasit Piromya was scheduled to be Kuala Lumpur in mid-January, adding that the deal was among the matters to be inked during his trip.