KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Crime Prevention Foundation (MCPF) has urged schools to report crime cases involving their students to the police.
Its vice-chairman, Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye said the schools’ reputation should not be made a priority at the expense of discipline and the safety of students.
“School authorities must be honest. If there is a problem (juvenile) in school, get the police to solve before it becomes worse,” he told a press conference to mark the Crime Prevention Campaign 2015 here yesterday.
The campaign, organised in cooperation with Kolej Cybernetics, include an exhibition by the National Anti-Drug Agency, the Royal Malaysia Police and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission.
Lee said statistics on juvenile crime cases from Jan to Oct 2014 shows an increase of 24 percent compared to the corresponding period in 2013.
“A total of 8,015 arrests were made in 2014 compared to the 6,802 arrests over the corresponding period in 2013.” The arrests include that of 12 years-old children involved in criminal activities such as drug abuse, gambling and social problems.
He also voiced concerns over crime statistics (Jan-Oct) involving students although they declined from 2,162 cases in 2013 to 1,916 cases in 2014.
MCPF plans to establish more crime prevention clubs in schools to add to the 6,467 clubs or about 80 percent of primary and secondary schools nationwide. — Bernama