Archive News

BANGI, June 28 2010 (Bernama) -- Permata Negara patron Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor has suggested that a law be formulated to allow youths convicted of crime to choose an alternative punishment to imprisonment.

"At the moment, there is no law which offers the youths alternatives," she said at the closing of Session I of the Youth Empowerment Camp at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), here Monday.

"I hope a law will be drawn up to allow convicted youths to choose whether to go to prison, do social work or enter a rehabilitation programme."

She said if they were sent straight to prison, it could affect their future.

The prime minister's wife said the Empowerment Camp for Mat Rempit (illegal motorcycle racers) and the Community Empowerment Programme could be used as alternatives for convicted youths.

Both come under the Permata Negara programme.

Rosmah said according to the Malaysian Youth Index 2007, 12 per cent or nearly 500,000 youths were involved in at least one act of misconduct.

Malaysia has almost four million young people aged between 15 and 25.

Session I of the Youth Empowerment Camp started in March this year, and 33 participants comprising Mat Rempit who were arrested and referred by the police, completed the three-month programme.

Those interested to join the empowerment programme can contact the Pusat Pemerkasaan Remaja (Perkasa), Faculty of Social Science and Humanities, UKM, email to dfssk@pkrisc.ukm.my, call 03-89215354 or fax to 03-89252836.