Youth reform centers in the country have achieved 90 percent success in helping teenagers with disciplinary problems get back on the right track.

Women, Family and Community Development Ministry Parliamentary Secretary Chew Mei Fun revealed that18 such centers in the country achieved the success rate.

She said this when appealing to the public to support fund-raising activities of these centers yesterday.

Sin Chew Daily quoted her as saying that the more fortunate in society are duty bound to help these teenagers and they can do so by helping out in the programmes organised by the centers.

Chew said the survival of these reform centers depends largely on public support although they also receive government grants.

On drug reform centers, She said they only recorded a mere 10 percent success rate. This is because many drug addicts suffered relapses.

"The fact that society easily accepts teenagers who have been reformed is one of the reasons that contributed to the high success rate of youth reform centers," she added.

Contribute to society

According to Chew, if political and business organisations give their full support to the fund raising activities of the youth reform centers, many teenagers on the verge of committing crimes or with other disciplinary problems will be given the chance to turn over a new leaf.

"These youths will be able to contribute to society and country after going through the reform programme," she said

Chew lamented that charitable organisations such as orphanages and old folk's homes receive financial aid from various social organisations but youth reform centers are neglected.