Ministries to work closely to curb gangsterism in schools
JOHOR BARU: There will be closer cooperation between the Home and Education ministries to curb gangsterism among schoolchildren, says Deputy Home Minister Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed.
“Gangs will use schoolchildren to sell drugs, extort and other crimes.
“The schoolchildren don’t realise the repercussions because if they are caught, it is them who will face the brunt of the law, not their big boss,” he said yesterday.
Nur Jazlan warned secret society leaders not to use students in carrying out their illegal activities.
He said police will continue to act in a stringent manner against gangsters.
“The Prevention of Crime Act 1959 is being used against gangsters effectively,” Nur Jazlan told reporters after the launch of Jelajah Tani Negaraku TN50 in Pulai yesterday.
He advised school administrators with problems of gangsterism among their students to report to the police.
A report is needed as the police cannot enter a school without getting permission from the school administrators first, he said.
“For example, the National AntiDrug Agency has been doing drug tests among school students, but this is done after the school invited them. We want similar cooperation from the schools to stop gangsterism,” he added.
On a separate matter, Nur Jazlan announced that more than 150,000 refugees in the country with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) cards would be vetted by his ministry.
“We do not know whether they had used the proper channels to come into Malaysia, as the moment they arrive here, they will immediately apply for the UNHCR cards.
“Background checks including their financial status will be carried out. The ministry wants to make sure these people are really refugees and not involved in criminal activities.
“We also want to be certain they are not terrorists who want to use Malaysia as a base to plan their attacks on another country,” he said.
The schoolchildren don’t realise the repercussions because if they are caught, it is them who will face the brunt of the law, not their big boss.
Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed