INTRODUCE VANDALISM ACT IN MALAYSIA - SOCIAL ACTIVIST

KUALA LUMPUR, June 22 (Bernama) -- A prominent social activist believes the
time has come to introduce a vandalism act to mete out deterrent punishment and
compulsory community service.

Lee Lam Thye said this could be done, now that Article 6 of the
Federal Constitution which prohibited forced labour, was amended several years
ago.

"There is a need for a new federal legislation to deal with this problem
through compulsory community service to shame the culprits, as well as provision
to cane habitual offenders," he said in a statement here.

Under the proposed vandalism act, Lee said that convicted vandals shall be
liable to compulsory community service, in accordance to the number of hours to
be determined by the relevant authorities.

For habitual offenders (more than three times), he said the guilty shall be
liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years, and shall also,
subject to section 231 of the Criminal Procedure Code, be punished with caning.

Lee said, as it was difficult for the authorities to nab culprits
red-handed, the public could make a citizen's arrest and hand them over to the
authorities.

-- BERNAMA