One parent feels educating teens on the dangers of negative activities is the answer
BY STEPHEN PUAH
KUCHING: More parents are expressing their opinions on the proposed curfew and time limit for young Malaysians to be out of the house without adult supervision.
The latest group has mixed feelings about the proposal.
A school teacher and a mother of four children, Angela Ritikos, opined that to set a curfew and time limit strictly might draw the wrath of teenagers.
She said what was most important was to educate them on the dangers and they should inform their parents of their whereabouts and the company they are in.
“Usually when my children go out at night, my husband and I always check on them if they are not back by midnight,” said Angela.
She said sometimes children even went out at 11pm just to have supper at the eatery nearby.
A father of four, Mohd Rithaudeen, 60, agreed that the motive was good to minimise social ills but pointed out that social ills could occur anywhere and not necessarily in towns, cities or nightspots.
“What about in villages?” he asked, adding that there were activities in villages that went on till wee hours.
“It is common for youths below 18 in villages to ‘lepak’ (loiter) till late at night, consuming alcohol and taking drugs.
“Incest is also rampant nowadays and they don’t take place in towns, cities and nightspots but at home. What is the basis of implementing such a law?” he asked.
He felt such a law would serve no purpose and would not be enforced properly.
University lecturer Bernard Jussem saw the curfew as a good idea as it would be an effective way to combat social ills.
“The idea and intention behind it is good, provided that everybody must work together…parents and the authorities must cooperate.
“Make sure it is not a seasonal kind of thing as there must be follow-ups, like the smoking ban,” said Bernard.
He said enforcement and monitoring were just as important to ensure there was consistency.
On the other hand, a senior officer with the Education Department, Annie Teresa John, said: “I for one, being a single mother, strongly agree to the government’s move to set a certain time limit for youngsters below 18 to be out of the house to shield them from any negative activities and influences.
She said at this age, youngsters were very much influenced by their peers.
“I suggest that this rule also should apply to youngsters who are still studying, even those who are 19, as some are not mature enough, especially boys.
“I really must thank the government if this law matrialises as it helps parents and society as a whole to ensure young kids do not ‘lepak’. They should not be wasting their precious time at night when they can spend quality time with families at home,” said Annie.
A Cabinet Committee on Eradicating Drugs meeting, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail on Thursday, among others is considering the possibility of setting a time limit for young Malaysians to be out of the house without adult supervision, to shield them from negative activities and influences.
Such a curfew would help prevent them from getting into trouble, particularly when it comes to drugs, the authorities believe.
Malaysia would not be the first country to introduce a curfew on teenagers and children as Iceland has implemented a similar law.
Under Iceland’s Child Protection Act, children under 12 may not be outdoors after 8pm unless accompanied by an adult.
Children aged 13 to 16 may not be outdoors after 10pm, unless they are on their way home from a recognised event organised by their school, sports organisation or youth club.
However, some have questioned Iceland’s law, saying it contravenes United Nations’ Guidelines for the Prevention of Juvenile Delinquency and also violates the human rights of children.
