Malacca police plan lockup visit for delinquent students

MALACCA: Malacca police plan to bring delinquent students on visits to lockups in the state to instil awareness on the consequences of engaging in criminal activities.
Malacca police chief Datuk Abdul Jalil Hassan said through such approach the students would be able to see for themselves how life was for offenders inside a police lockup or jail.
"Although this proposal is still at the discussion stage, we hope it is not just to instil dread in the students but to create awareness in them about avoiding activities that are against the law," he said.
He told reporters this after chairing a meeting with the state Education Department and Malacca Islamic Religious Department at the contingent police headquarters here today.
He stressed that parents and guardians should monitor their children's after school activities to prevent them from getting involved in criminal activities.
"Parents play an important role in educating and shaping their children's future, so they should know what their children are doing and must monitor their daily activities particularly those that had dropped out of school," he said.
He said Malacca police would intensify their "Op Didik" which they initiated in 2016 with the support of the state education department to provide counselling to problematic students and their parents.
"In 2016 we conducted 21 raids on computerised entertainment centres, supermarkets and other premises where students who play truant usually hang out and bring them to the police station for counselling by a police counsellor and also one from the education department.
"This year we will increase the raids to prevent students from involvement in unhealthy activities," he said.
Abdul Jalil said police would also examine the proposal to get students who were involved in road accidents while committing traffic offences such as illegal racing and driving without a licence, to share their experiences and help create awareness among other students on the consequences of breaking the law. — Bernama