Get to Root of Social Ills

7/31/2019 Get to Root of Social Ills

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Get to root of social ills

IN the fight against crime we must not only strengthen law enforcement and enhance policeefficiency but also tackle the multifarious social ills which are the root causes.

I have long advocated that while fighting crime is essential, finding its root causes and addressing

them is even more crucial.

The Malaysia Crime Prevention Foundation (MCPF) is of the view that drug addiction is one of the

major causes of many crimes such as snatch thefts and house break-ins.

Unless there is success in addressing drug abuse, such crimes will continue to take place.

And, unless we can help to provide employment opportunities to rehabilitated drug addicts they will

return to crime out of desperation.

The cause of our social ills lies in the fact that there is serious moral degradation among the younger

generation, coupled with the lack of parenting guidance.The nations rapid economic and technological progress is not matched with moral and human

development.

No one can deny the importance of ICT today, but at the same time we need to realise the necessity

of promoting good moral values that are essential in making Malaysia a fully developed nation.

Progress must not be at the expense of decaying moral and human developmen.

The easy availability of pornographic materials is, I believe, one of the main factors for the increase in

sex crimes. Pornographic materials through pirated VCDs sold cheaply everywhere is not the only

problem.There is also the addiction to cybersex and sex aids that lead to corruption of young minds

and also marital woes.There is also the problem of ecstasy pills and other stimulants easily available

at entertainment spots, which has gone unabated.

We need to tackle crime from various fronts. On the educational front, we need awareness

programmes to reach out to all strata of society and educate our youth and teenagers on the

negative aspects of social ills.Schools need to tighten discipline with the help of teachers, parents and

the relevant authorities. Parents must never abdicate their responsibility in the upbringing of their

children. They cannot turn a blind eye to the problems of their young ones.

The Government must go all out to enforce the law, meted out without fear or favour.

If an increase in crime is part of the price of progress, then we will have to nip whatever negative

aspects that come with development in the bud.

TAN SRI LEE LAM THYE,Exco member, MCPF.

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2012/4/22/focus/11147365&sec=focus
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Coping with social problems

NEWS from Sibu about alleged child prostitution last week must have upset many people.

One hopes that this is a rare and isolated case in this fair land of Sarawak. In other parts of the

world, especially in the poverty stricken parts of cities, child prostitution has been part of theoldest profession. In a metropolis, the circumstances are such that group ostracism can hardly

be exerted and social control is practically nonexistent amidst great temptations.

We must find out, however, the reasons why such a thing has happened in our society amidst

the apparent affluence. While the police investigation is being wrapped up, the Welfare

Department has taken the girl under its wings.

Normally, police investigations are focused on any violation of the relevant law. In the

process, however, they would like to know about the circumstances in which the mother and

the child found themselves.

It is assumed that the Welfare Department officials have by now collected information from

the girl as well, and used it for their report to the relevant authorities, for urther action. The

minister n charge would then take ction quickly. More importantly, any information from the

girl or her mother regarding those men should provide leads for further investigations.

The men also to blame

In our society, the usual blame is on the women for a sexual offence. But what about the men

who take advantage of them, especially the underaged girls; the male culprits should be

punished too. How? Investigate further, catch one blighter, and expose the Casanova publicly.

Basically human behaviour has not changed an iota since Adams time.

In respect of women, for instance, there are many men in this century who still regard women

as chattels. Unlike the climate, they dont change; like the climate change, they do a lot of

harm to innocent women.

Community ostracism

Apart from the force of law, community disapproval is necessary to put the fear of God in the

violators of customs and mores of a particular group of people.

Unfortunately, in a populace of various cultural backgrounds, disapprobation is often confined

only to those people who recognise it.

The rest of the general public would rather mind their own business.

Governments responsibility

The ultimate responsibility is that of the government of the day. Already in place are the

authorities, even a ministry, to monitor and employ measures to reduce social ills in the

country.


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You cant eliminate all social problems.

No longer is the job left entirely to the social workers from the religious and charitable

organisations.

Armed with all the power and the authority and the resources, we should be able to cope withthe social malaise better than many other countries.

Socioeconomic studies

The police have their hands full 24 hours a day handling all sorts of problems, social and

criminal. The other agencies should give a helping hand in combating these sicknesses, by

finding out the root causes, to begin with.

As far as social ills are concerned, for what it is worth, I suggest that socioeconomic surveys

should be conducted amongst the various ethnic groups in places like Kuching, Sibu, Bintulu

and Miri, to name a few.

Depending on the format of the questionnaire, the root causes of social ills may be discovered

during the exercises. The database is vital for use by the relevant authorities to formulate

policy and measures with which to handle these enemies of the people.

It is my guess that the social ills among the Ibans in towns have not been comprehensively

studied. If there have been such exercises in the past or are ongoing, members of the

community at large should be enlightened accordingly.

There is nothing to be ashamed of in identifying problems affecting members of the group

who reside in towns and cities, if appropriate remedial measures would follow immediately.

The published report on frequent divorces among the Ibans in Miri is relevant to the current

discussion. Reasons for frequency of such divorces are many and varied, but knowledge of

the causes at work is confined to the judges. Is it accessible to the priests or religious people

or even to the ketua kaum as well?

We are not saying everybody is divorcing everybody else every day in Miri. Divorces are a

matter of the heart and of the circumstances surrounding a particular marriage. Its not for the

public at large to know as of right, but the frequency of incidences occurring amongst a group

of people of a similar culture causes some concern to the other members of that group. Thiscalls for some search of the conscience of the community as a whole.

Rope in everybody

For such studies, enlist the services of all the religious bodies and nongovernmental

organisations (NGOs) as well as the relevant government agencies, mainly the police, the city

or municipal councils, the anti-drugs agency, health authorities, and the Welfare Department.

Social problems exist in any ethnic community

One fine afternoon last year, as I was strolling on the much-vaunted Kuching Waterfront,taking pictures, I saw behind the Chinese Museum, a group of men. Obviously, they were


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having a good time as they were unusually boisterous. They were friendly to me and wanted

me to join in the fun. I was in a dilemma, should I mind my own business or do something

useful for king and country?

After thanking them for the kind invitation, I couldnt help but give them some advice on the

terrible effects of the stuff they were drinking. That was politely acknowledged with, Betul,betul, tapi

There was good news the other day: Pantai Damai assemblyman Dr Abdul Rahman Junaidi

had initiated the formation of what are called the social action units for the purpose of finding

solutions to the social ills in his area. He must have correctly diagnosed the causes of these

problems for which he prescribes the cure or relief.

A commendable move indeed!

Please let the media know if and when the units are proven effective.

Its been six months now and I doubt if any of my Waterfront friends have by now given up

the langkau habit. Perhaps, the Pantai Damai social action units (PADAMUmy idea) or

similar action oriented groups should help them out of this quagmire before they ruin their

livers.

Brighter note

While the sombre thoughts on the effects of social ills at home and of global warming

worldwide on the biosphere cannot be brushed aside, at the same time, we must be positive:

the happy Spirit of the Yuletide will mollify the foreboding

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problems/#ixzz1ui3EuulP
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Get to Root of Social Ills