GANGSTERISM IN SCHOOLS MUST BE APPROACHED IN HOLISTIC MANNER - M'SIAN DPM

KUALA LUMPUR, July 30 (Bernama) -- Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin
Yassin said Friday gangsterism involving students must be approached in a
holistic manner to determine whether it develops from problems at school or due
to external elements.

Muhyiddin, who is also Education Minister, said that of late there was a
tendency to relate activities of youths outside the school to their status as
students.

"All youngsters are students at one stage, but we have to find out what
drives them to gangsterism. It could be related to their environment outside the
school," he said when asked to comment on gangsterism involving students which
had resulted in injury to students.

Recently, three students of a secondary school Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan
Tasik Permai, Ampang, were assaulted for refusing to join a secret society
recruiting secondary students as members.

Muhyiddin, approached by reporters after attending the Asean Schools Games
2010 appreciation reception for athletes and officials here, said he was
concerned about this trend.


He said severe penalties would be meted out to students if it was proven
that they committed crime.

Muhyiddin advised schools and parents to play their respective role to
ensure that the school environment was conducive and safe so as to prevent
incidents in which students could get injured.

He also advised the police to step up patrols in the vicinity of schools to
prevent outsiders from influencing students.

-- BERNAMA