YOURSAY | ‘Curfew for teenagers? Certainly, there are many other ways to curb social ills.’

Gov't considering curfew for teens below 18 to prevent drug abuse

David Dass: A curfew for teenagers below 18 is a difficult measure to enforce. How do the police round up young people for breaking the curfew? Where do they place them? What do they do with them?

Do we have sufficient rehabilitation centres for all drug addicts? Is breaking the law an offence? Can they be sent to prison? They are minors. Our prisons are already overcrowded.

We must think out of the box. Our schools must be more attractive places. Children must be encouraged to participate in extracurricular activities. Schools must have sports fields and gymnasiums.

Teachers must be trained to much higher levels to play the role of counsellors and surrogate parents.

More non-Malay teachers should be recruited. The diversity will help.

Children must be encouraged to have healthy hobbies. Boredom is a big issue for the young. Those who are not academically-inclined should be shunted to vocational schools where they are trained to use their hands and minds in ways better suited for them.

Bring back English as a second language. It will give students access to the wider world through the world wide web. It will encourage self-learning.

Reach out to the homes. Support the parents. Give them the knowledge and skills they need to be more effective parents. Give the poor affordable homes.

Housing estates must replicate villages. Ensure facilities for socialising and community living. Keep the gangs out and make sure that the lifts and rubbish chutes work. Engage the young in a more constructive way.

TCM: This proposal has its potential, but implementation needs to be done correctly. Imposing a curfew is not a burden, it is actually helping parents.

“Why can’t I go out with my friends? Why are you being so mean, mom?”

“Well, it’s not me. It’s the government.”

Case closed.

Hang Jebat: Curfew is a bad option but necessary. We have to protect our young by hook or by crook. We must ensure that all grassroots leaders, imam, village chiefs, etc, are not themselves drug addicts or drug pushers. It is a phenomenal task.

Where I am, I note that former Umno crooked guys are filling up the grassroots posts under Pakatan Harapan. Very sad indeed.

Anonymous: This proposal is stupid. They can still do drugs, outside of curfew period. Many students do such activities during and after school - prior to going home.

God Save Us: It is not a dumb proposal, but a valid one. Discipline has totally eroded. We have to reset the clock.

Iceland took a bold step when they introduced this. The dividends are for all to see.

Gaji Buta: Iceland is a depressed country with very little daylight and cold weather. A lot of people are on anti-depressants.

Malaysia is a warm tropical country with lots of sunlight, coconut trees and beaches. Why are we in the same state as Iceland?

Why are our youths depressed, especially from a certain segment of society, similar to their elders who are always upset about everything?

First, you have to undo the knots and chains in your own life to move forward, instead of looking at external solutions. Seek and you will find.

Anonymous 19811504508400: Imposing a curfew would be like relieving the symptoms but not curing the illness. Once outside the curfew, these youngsters will be at risk again.

A curfew is effective for short-term operations. For drug abuse prevention, education and dissemination of information on dangers of drugs specially designed to change values and attitudes are still the best.

Gerakan slams gov't proposal to set curfew for teens

JayWai: Why are some people so against the idea of a curfew for children and teens? Can all teenagers make rational decisions or choices?

There are families who have such "curfew" rules for their own children. Teens in boarding schools have curfew hours, too.

What the government is proposing is merely to extend it to cover the larger community/society. We need policies that will help to keep our youth "safe" until such time when they themselves can make better or more mature decisions.

As silly as some may feel, I think having curfew hours is a fantastic idea.

Anakraja: Parents who have teenage children will be happy if this law is implemented. This is one way to keep an eye on our children.

Gerakan vice-president Baljit Singh, you being in the legal line, think before you spit.

Truth: I as a parent fully support setting curfew for teenagers. It is not a petty matter.

Kids have no reason to be out of the home, especially after midnight. After curfew hours, they are only allowed if accompanied by parents or legal guardians.

Anonymous 2403211456991397: @Truth, why don’t you do that for your children, but not force other parents who disagree with your parenting style to do the same by supporting such a draconian law?

Rupert16: I could not agree more with Baljit, even I don’t think highly of Gerakan politicians these days unlike the days of Lim Chong Eu.

We shouldn’t allow our government to take the easy and convenient way by imposing curfews on our teenagers, the way the Islamic authorities report khalwat cases.

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