WAYS TO FIGHT JUVENILE DELINQUENCY

NEWSPAPER reports of the continuing rise in juvenile delinquency, especially in schools is cause for concern. In the 1960s and 1970s most juvenile delinquents were school dropouts, but this trend has changed as more schoolchildren, are now turning to crime . There is certainly an urgent need to recognise the problem and take positive steps to arrest this unhealthy trend
Offences committed by students these days include assaulting their teachers and fellow students,bullying, theft, housebreaking,robbery,extortion,dadah abuse,sexual crimes, smoking, drinking,truancy, vandalism and illegal racing. Smoking among students of both sexes is also reported to be on the rise, in spite of the no smoking campaign launched by the Government.
It has now been established that most juvenile delinquents are schoolchildren, especially those who come from broken homes in the slum areas and also from urban areas., and as such I strongly believe that in the prevention of juvenile delinquency , the home and the schooling aspect should never be neglected , but then there are more than 40,000 single mothers who are living below poverty line, and with so many children to take care,they are often neglected , and something must be done about this.

I think the weakest link lies in the absence of a policy on crime prevention in schools to evaluate the impact of home environment ,truancy ,indiscipline ,dadah abuse, smoking, drinking etc on child behaviour and in particular its relation to juvenile delinquency.
I hope the Malaysian Crime Prevention Foundation ,and others instead of just prescribing antidotes play an active role not only in preventing crime, but also to determine ways in which the public, parent-teacher associations,the mass media, Government departments, non Governmental Organizations , can contribute to the reduction of crimes especially in schools.
Public response has been encouraging as seen by the number of people writing to this column, giving their ideas and suggestions, and I feel that MCPF should take the initiative to gather all the ideas ,informations,and suggestions and call upon all the relevant authorities to have a seminar and come out with a solution that could be implemented in our schools system.There should be a referendum on the issue.
The following suggestions could be of help:

.School social work should be introduced to help students modify their attitudes towards
schooling and their teachers and to enhance adjustment to the school enviro0nment.

. Build up their sense of belonging and loyalty to the school through sports academic excellence, and co curricular activities.

Better communication between parents students and teachers through the PTAs to discuss and solve problems

The mass media should promote the appreciation of the intrinsic value of education. It is very important for parent and the community to realise the importance of education as a positive step towards the prevention of crime and delinquency

Students should be guided on the useful occupation of their leisure hours. More playing fi elds should be developed ,instead of golf course and cyber cafes

Students should be compelled to be members of disciplined uniform groups. They could help discipline teachers enforce discipline. School discipline teachers should be members of the police volunteer reserve with powers to arrest and detain, and they should be in police uniform while teaching in schools. Its objective is to induce in students the respect for law and order, regard for property, love for their parents, teachers, fellow students and elders, and a sense of pride in themselves and to foster in them the awareness of their abilities.
.
They should also be encouraged to take up vocational training, hobbies,or socializing ,like biking, hiking picnic canoeing and other organized activities.

Religious groups, clubs like the Lion and Rotary Club , PTAs, NGOs and private sectors companies should take an active part in organizing various activities for students so that they would not be left on their own

Re introduce the post of Probation officers,besides handling probation reports, they should also be responsible for handling schoolchildren who play truant and to report the matter to the schools and their parents as it is done in the United Kingdom..They should work closely with the police in all matters regarding juvenile delinquency.

There is no easy way to fight juvenile delinquency . I realise also that it is not an easy task to implement all suggestions put forward by everyone as there are a lot of obstacles to be overcome such as funds.

However we must realize that it is better to spend on preventive measures rather than see our schools turned into ganglands, which will not benefit future generations.


NOR SHAHID MOHD NOR
PETALING JAYA

WRONG TO SAY ORANG ASLI ARE MARGINALIZED

I refer to the letter, 'A leg-up for Orang Asli", (nst Feb 13) by Datuk S Ambiga.
It is regrettable that the learned President of the Bar Council, for whatever reasons,took the opportunity during the ongoing political crises in Perak to commend and highlighted what the Nizar Administration did in the last 10 months for the Orang Asli in Perak.
What irked me is that, why is it that the Bar Council, all these years never even mentioned, let alone commended or highlighted the Federal Government's effort to improve the socio economic standard of the
Orang Asli community in Malaysia for the last six decades?
I am sure to day the Orang Asli are much better off than their ancestors of 70 years ago when they used to live in deep jungles, far away from civilization
without proper housing. electricity, water, proper food,medical and health care, education and economic activities .
In 1939 ,the British established the Department of Aborigine Affairs,which is now known as Jabatan Hal Ehwal Orang Asli,headed by a Director General to oversees to the affairs of the Orang Asli in Malaysia. In 1961 the Federal Government established an Administrative Policy with and objective to integrate the 141,000 Orang Asli community with mainstream Malaysian society, so that they will be at par with all the other communities..
Unfortunately it is not an easy task for the Department to integrate the minority prebumi people, as they still prefer to be among their own community and practice their own culture, customs ,and religious beliefs . About 39% of them still lives in the jungles, 60% in jungle fringes and 1% in kampongs and towns
However the government's effort at improving and uplifting their socio economic standard is ongoing and they are slowly moving out of their cocoons
and leaving the jungles for better life, In 2008 ,RM 58 million was allocated to implement development projects, like better houses with modern amenities , schools ,clinics,community halls roads ,bridges etc.
So it is certainly wrong to say that the Orang Asli are a marginalized group. I do not wish to delve further on the subject, and I leave it to The Director General of JHEOA to give a better picture on whether the Orang Asli are being marginalized or not .


NOR SHAHID MOHD NOR
PETALING JAYA

norshahidmohdnor@gmail.com No. 55 SS 3/41 Kelana Jaya 47300 Petaling Jaya
Tel.03 78730320 , 019 2213647
13 February 2009

MAKE BUKIT LARUT THE VENUE FOR ECO TOURISM

There are people who want upgrading and modern development, including the cable car project for Bukit Larut, while there are others who are nature lovers including myself as a Taipingite , want the surrounding jungles with its flora and fauna , birds and bees, butterflies and insects, monkeys and most probably tigers, preserved for heritage.

Bukit Larut the former Maxwell Hill, is the only hill resort left in Malaysia which has not suffered at the hands of massive development. It will not be long though if the proposal for the cable car project goes through. Instead of spending RM 60 million on the project which I am sure will not be profitable, it would be wise for the State Government to spend around RM 5 million ringgit to improve the present infrastructure and winding steep narrow, 15 km road leading to the top of the hill, including lighting up the whole stretch of the road.This would enable better 4 WD vehicles to make faster trips up and down the hill The drive up on a land rover is indeed a part of the old charm, and many would want to experience it once in a lifetime.
One of the many wonderful features and charms of Bukit Larut is the quiet nights, the charming and romantic atmosphere that it has which is still old and pristine. When one stands on the verandah of the rest house at night facing and looking down at the flickering lights of Taiping town with the cool breeze blowing on one's face and the sounds of crickets and insects droning and buzzing in the nearby jungle, one would feel so peaceful that for a moment one would feel as though one is in a Lost World. This is the feeling that we want our tourists to feel in Bukit Larut, not the sounds of discos , noise from the pubs with wine women and song, or enjoying in the comfort of a five star hotel with a golf course., and swimming pool. Bukit Larut should be the venue for eco-tourism , and if it is kept the way it is today, without changing the whole environment ,it will be on the world map and will become a magnet to not only local but also foreign tourists.
Before bringing in the tourists accommodation must be improved and make sure that there are enough rooms available, maintain the Colonial facade of all the present buildings with repairs and renovations.Refurbish the lobby, the dining hall,and all the bedrooms in the rest house with new furnitures. Toilets facilities with hot and cold running water should be up to international standard and should be maintained at all times
Build a new food court with Asian and Western menu , a convenience store, and internet cafe with wi fi and high speed internet services. I remember the Hill used to have a small post office and this should be revived , with a police post, a clinic with a resident doctor, and a 4 WD ambulance added up.
Next improve on the infrastructure ,by repairing and upgrading the cement steps leading from the base station to Tea Garden. Add iron railing on both sides of the steep steps and build a couple of concrete platforms on both sides of the steps as rest areas, .Theses would provide better access to those who are keen to walk up the hill, and enjoy the sounds and sights of birds from the jungle .
As an eco tourism resort, it should have a camp site where people can pitch their tents ,or provide tents for hire. It should also be equipped with public baths and toilets, BBQ pits, camp fire site etc. As a boy scout in the fifties we used to camp somewhere near Tea Garden,and held campfire and BBQ with our scoutmaster the late Mr Utam Singh. I am sure this will attract Boy Scouts and Youth Groups not only from Malaysia but throughout the world
Build more log (kayu bakau) cabins near the camp sites for visitors who would want to experience living in a jungle for a couple of nights.

Have more well arrange flower gardens with tulips and roses as the main flowers, and turn it to look like an English garden with a small flower shop to sell the flowers to visitors.Establish a nature museum with various species of staffed birds , insects and butterflies,found in Bukit Larut. Provide a better and beautiful park and children"s playground complete with public toilets and amenities where day trip visitors can have their family picnics .
Whatever it is the State Government must appoint a professional managing director with professional workers to manage the Hill Resort for the benefit of not only the local but also foreign tourists.Finally I would like to urge the people of Taiping who loves the town to say definitely 'NO' to the cable car project.

NOR SHAHID MOHD NOR
PETALING JAYA

EDUCATE LITTERBUGS NOT HELP THEM

I refer to your report,"Volunteers to clean up Thaipusam rubbish", (nst Street 4 January).
Year after year, and I am positive that the same scenario at the Sri Subramaniam Swamy Temple after Thaipusam this year would be the same , as tons of waste and litter, would be left behind by hawkers,stall holders, visitors, and devotees, for someone else to pick.

Thanks to the Selayang Municipal Council and Alam Flora who as usual, would clear the rubbish and clean up the place within a couple of days. These die hard litterbugs will never learn to keep the place clean, simply because they know that the authorities who are paid will do the job, for them, so why bother?
This year Sampah Masyarakat, a non -profit organisation , together with about 100 volunteers will join the Selayang Municipal and Alam Flora workers to reduce the rubbish left behind during the celebrations.
While I applaud the noble cause , I feel that the move to encourage youths to participate in the cleanliness work ,when everyone has left the site is ridiculous .I dont understand the rational behind the move.
Instead Sampah Masyarakat should organize an educational programme , to remind and to warn the public not to throw rubbish anywhere they like. especially in a sacred place like the Temple. Volunteers should be going around mingling with the people, distributing plastic bags and encourage the people to throw their rubbish into the bag which they should be carrying around until they come to the nearest bin where they can deposit the bag.Volunteers should be given loud hailers to encourage people , hawkers and stall holders not to litter but to put all their rubbish in the bins provided.Enforcement officers should also be going around , warning litterbugs of the possibility of being fine.
If Sampah Masyarakat, the volunteers ,and
the enforcement officers could play their role strictly and positively, I am sure there will be less rubbish to collect from the floor.There is a need to change the mindset of these litterbugs.


NOR SHAHID MOHD NOR
PETALING JAYA

AWARD ALL BRAVE PUBLIC SERVANTS

AWARD ALL BRAVE PUBLIC SERVANTS

--------------------------------------------------------------

I refer to your report," Award for soldier who braved pain for duty", (nst. l9th January)
In my letter to this column, "Praise for an injured soldier's devotion to duty ,(nst 20th August). I suggested that he be commended and promoted for his exemplary conduct and devotion to duty.Kudos to Corporal Mohd Zamri Md Soot, who was awarded the Darjah Keberanian Kedah by His Royal Highness, The Sultan of Kedah on his 81st Birthday. I presume that he had also been promoted to Corporal soon after the incident.
In spite of this ,he is still a modest soldier, who did not want to disappoint his comrades , or ruin his battalion's reputation. Despite his injury he did not flinch and remained on parade right up to the end. Now that he is a moral booster and a role model to his battalion, he should at least be a Sargent .
I would also like to suggest that the fireman who risked his life to save a suicide bid woman , be commended and promoted for his brave deed . C Kesaven didnt hesitate and rushed forward to break the woman's fall. She landed in his arms and escaped death. (nst 16 th January)."Woman falls into fireman's arms.
I am sure critics would say that all these acts of bravery are in line of their duties as uniformed personnel,, but would anyone be brave enough to wait for a 60 kilogram object falls into his arms from a hight of a three story building?. Well done C.Kesaven ,you risked your life in line of duty.


NOR SHAHID MOHD NOR
PETALING JAYA

NATIONAL SCHOOLS PRODUCED TOP STUDENTS

I refer to the letter by Dr. S.Nathesan, "Make them attractive to all races;"(nst 5 January). I beg to defer from the writer's comment that the feeling of togetherness does not exist in National schools.
It is regrettable that not only the National school system , but also the National schools have been receiving a lot of bashing lately for baseless reasons.. I wonder weather the writer is aware that not only Malay but also Chinese and Indian students from these schools came out top in the 2008 PMR examination, and thousands with straight As, as compared to students from the vernacular schools. Past students of these schools are today ,captains of Industries,top corporate figures,top government servants, and professionals in various fields.These goes to prove that there is nothing seriously wrong about these schools.
The truth of the fact is that some Chinese and Indian parents do not want to send their children to National schools not because of the unattractiveness of these schools, but because they are greatly influenced by their elders, educationists,NGOs,and politicians. They give the perception that the National schools, are Malay or religious schools,just because most of the students and teachers are Malays, who speak Bahasa Melayu,and the medium of instructions are in Bahasa Melauyu and English. So they shy away from sending their children to these schools for fear of loosing out on their own language culture, and above all their religion.
This fear is clearly stated by a member of a Chinese NGO a couple of weeks ago, who said that third generation Chinese immigrants American no longer know their own mother tongue and have lost out on their culture and tridition. They are no longer Chinese, but American and speak only English, a language that all Americans must know how to speak read and write before they could become the citizens of the United States.
That was the main reason why some Chinese educationists were against the suggestion put forward by Dato Mukriz Tun Mahathir to have only one school system, that is the National schools with Bahasa Melayu and English as the medium of instructions, and pupils-own-language classes, for Chinese and Indian students.
When I was in an English school in Seremban back in the fifties , 95% of the teachers were Indian and
Chinese.There was only one Malay form teacher.The Headmaster, the English and science teachers were British. There were only about 20% of Malays in the school of about 600 students, and although we were outnumbered by Chinese and Indian students and teachersa we always had the feeling of togetherness and until today I still have many close Chinese and Indians friends who were once my classmates.
Why this fear of sending your children to the Nationals schools? Many Malay women, including my wife, her sisters and my sisters and my daughters were all educated in convent schools. They can even say the Christian prayers , but none of them became Christian or became Chinese and Indians. I believe that for as long as we want to be Chinese ,Indians and Malays the concept of Malaysian Malaysia will remain a political dream.


NOR SHAHID MOHD NOR
PETALING JAYA

DRUG ADDICTS A RE JUST NOT CATTLE OR SHEEP

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I refer to the letter by Abdul Razak Abu Samah ," Cast away drug addicts on a rehabilitation island,
(nst 8 December).
I have my reservation about the writer's suggestion,unless a thorough feasible study has been made. This is to ensure the safety of not only the drug addicts but also the staff and their families. I think it is unwise for anyone to believe that hard core drug addicts could be successfully rehabilitated by putting them away forever on remote islands ,These are sick and desperate human beings. They would even kill their own mother to get money to support their habit. They are not just cattle or sheep, that could be left to fend for themselves on remote islands.Most of them are walking skeletons with HIV or AIDS, and dying a slow death. Besides it is against Human Rights to cast them away from their families, relatives and friends.
How many people today still remember,when in the early fifties the British Government in Singapore thought it was wise to rehabilitate hard core criminals,and triad society gangsters on an island called Pulau Senang. It was a success story for a couple of years,until a riot broke outand the prisoners not only massacred the British Superintendent of Prison, his officers and warders, but also burnt the whole facility to the ground..
Pulau Senang was history and the United Nations later advised countries not to establish penal islands unless maximum security is guaranteed.
Think of the funds needed to build the facility on a remote island. There is also the matter of logistics, staffing,and management. Is it worth it?. There are now more than 200,000 registered addicts with many more not accounted for. Going by the trend, the population of hard core addicts will increase from year to year. Do we have enough islands to cast all of them there?.
The easy availability of dadah on our streets is a plus factor for the rise in dadah abuse. This contributes to the rise in not only petty but also serious crimes,
Although large amount of various drugs,have been found by the authorities in recent years ,very few big time pushers and smugglers have been arrested. The authorities seem to be arresting more dadah addicts, and unless aconcerted effort is made by all enforcement agencies, the war on dadah which the Government declared three decades ago will not be won.
We must fight the war against dadah, just like the United States,is fighting the war on terrorism.The pushers and smugglers must be hunted and tracked down. Offer attractive rewards to those who give information leading to their arrests.