The Perak Tengah District Council has taken it upon themselves to assume the role of ‘moral police’ to curb social ills by curbing the sales of ‘couple love seats’ in a Lotus Five Star (LFS) cinema in Bandar Seri Iskandar, Perak.

According to its cinema assistant, the rule had been implemented two years ago and was recommended by the Perak Tengah District Council as a way to curb immoral acts among young adults. It should be noted that this requirement only applies to Muslim couples ‘or when one of the pair is Muslim’.

Local governments councils are subjected to main acts: the Street, Drainage and Building Act 133 (1974), the Town and Country Act 172 (1974) and of course, the Local Government Act 171(1976).

In general, local governments in Malaysia have multiple functions such as public service and environment (road service, traffic control and enforcement, managing parks, bus stands, proper draining and culvert system, flash flood control, providing sports and recreational facilities, planning and developing areas within council jurisdiction) and social (housing garbage collection, industrial, sewerage, sanitation and others, public education, welfare for people with disabilities and the aged).

To date, there are 13 city councils, 38 municipal councils, 98 district councils and five special or modified local governments in Malaysia. Local government represents the third tier in the governing structure - federal (first tier), state (second tier) and council (third tier). In addition to providing service and representation, councils have the power to collect assessment taxes, to create by-laws and grant licences or permits for any trade within its jurisdiction.

Curbing social ills takes more than just limiting the sales of ‘couple seats’ in cinemas. It needs thorough scholarly analysis and social research. A number of studies have identified several glaring factors responsible for social ills.

The Journal of Human Ecology published a study in 2005 entitled ‘Recreational facilities in schools: A panacea for youths’ restiveness’ highlighted several major factors such as peer pressure, economic exploitation, lack of humanitarian and social welfare, corrupt practices of government officials and bad governance, inadequate training programmes, inadequate recreational facilities, and lack of quality education.

Unemployment and economic disparity are regarded as the double-headed monster which exists among the youth in all developing countries and many scholars (and well-read citizens) are aware that the absence of job opportunities especially those living below the poverty line are responsible for youth restiveness with disastrous consequences’. Poor education also adds to the mounting problems that cause social ills.

Nelson Mandela once said, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” To encourage moral worthiness and promote healthy character development, we must seriously look into revamping our education system and begin to look into the actual causes that trigger social ills in earnest.

SYERLEENA ABDUL RASHID is Bukit Bendera DAP Wanita political education director, Bukit Bendera Dapsy secretary and Penang Island City Council member.