On 18 March 2008, Y.A.B Prime Minister announced the restructuring of the ministry for the formation of the Cabinet by merging the Ministry of Internal Affairs (KHEDN) and the Ministry of Internal Security (KKDN), to be the Ministry of Home Affairs (KDN).

This Division was officially established on 16 August 2008. The issuance of the Personnel Warrant No. W. P. Bill. K 104/2008 of this Division was dated 26 August 2008 and Administration Instructions by the Secretary General of the Ministry of Home Affairs No. 3 Year 2008 was dated 10 September 2008. This section established under the Security Sector led by the Deputy Secretary-General (Security). Prior to its establishment, the Division's functions were carried out by the Public Order and Security Division.

At the beginning of its establishment, it was named as Prison, Anti-Drugs and Civil Defense Division (PDP) in line with the efforts to streamline the role of the Ministry of Home Affairs. However, in the middle of 2015 the Division has been renamed as Prison, Anti-Drugs and Civil Volunteers Division (PDR), when the Department of Civil Defense Malaysia has been placed under the jurisdiction of the Prime Minister's Department (JPM) and the Volunteers Department of Malaysia was upgraded as a Department (formerly known as the Volunteer Force of Malaysia) in the Ministry of Home Affairs. This division, in general, is monitoring the implementation of policies, laws and regulations in three agencies under the Ministry of Home Affairs, namely Malaysian Prison Department, National Anti-Drugs Agency and Volunteers Department of Malaysia.