Syed said there are certain quarters in the country that love to punish but fail to guide. Bernama Photo
MUAR: Youths involved in the ‘mat lajak’ or dangerous cycling activities should be given guidance to become successful individuals and not punished over their ignorance, says Youth and Sports Minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman.
The Muar MP said there are certain quarters in the country that love to punish but fail to guide, when the younger generation needs help, and it is the community’s responsibility to give a hand.
He said despite the flak he received for his stance on providing guidance to the group, he chose to continue with the plan to train them under Technical and Vocational Education and Training programmes, teaching them road safety and enrolling them in the National Cycling Development Programme.
“I will continue to reach out to this community. I want them to be successful children. I want them to cycle safely and hone their talents. I do not want to see tragedies recur (from such activities).
“The loss of lives saddens everyone. We must learn from our mistakes. Let us all find a way to lend a helping hand to guide these youths to success. We owe it to Malaysia,” he said in a statement titled ‘The Mat Lajak Minister’ here today. – Bernama