Alliance for a Safe Community chairman Lee Lam Thye calls for education reform, digital citizenship training and stronger parental involvement to curb youth violence
KUALA LUMPUR: Alliance for a Safe Community chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye has proposed three national approaches to address the crisis of youth violence.
He stressed the urgent need for education reform, responsible digital citizenship and stronger parental involvement.
Lee cited the fatal stabbing of a student in Bandar Utama and rising school bullying as evidence of a deep-seated societal crisis.
“This is more than a disciplinary problem; it is a breakdown of character and noble values, and a harmful ‘digital influence’,” he said in a statement.
His first approach involves integrating Social-Emotional Learning into the core curriculum, as practised in nations like Denmark.
“Every student needs consistent, mandatory instruction in empathy, conflict resolution, and emotional literacy to build resilience and respect,” he said.
The second strategy is to move beyond basic ICT to teach children and parents to be critical and ethical online citizens.
This includes teaching them to evaluate content and understand the consequences of their digital actions.
Lee said the third pillar focuses on empowering parents through mandatory digital parenting programmes.
“The responsibility cannot solely fall on teachers; parents must be present, model healthy values, and actively foster real-world connections,” he stated.
He added that while laws can address technology risks, lasting safety is achieved by cultivating strong values.
Lee urged the government and all stakeholders to act decisively to implement these comprehensive measures.
The goal is to ensure a future for children defined by connection and empathy, not violence and digital isolation. – Bernama
