Indonesia began releasing hundreds of inmates from its notoriously overcrowded prisons on Friday after its parliament approved the first stage of a wide-ranging clemency plan by President Prabowo Subianto, aimed at building national solidarity.

Two months after he took office in October, Subianto granted clemency to some 44,000 inmates nationwide as a way to help unify the country. The first group of 1178 began leaving prisons on Friday, after Subianto signed a Presidential Decree on clemency.

Tom Lembong, Indonesia’s former Trade Minister, was released after being held for more than four years at Cipinang prison in eastern Jakarta. “I want to speak out, raise awareness, and, if possible, help make our legal system fairer, clearer, and more aligned with truth rather than narrow interests,” he said after his release.