Having positioned himself as a progressive, the proposed detention without trial in the Prevention of Crime Act (PCA) amendments appear to be too hot a potato for Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin to handle.
Khairy (left) ducked questions on the matter at a press conference in Kuala Lumpur today and later left the scene when chased down by Malaysiakini on the matter.
"I want to talk about my forum, PCA is another forum. I think you came to the wrong forum," he said when asked about the controversial law that the government claims will help combat crime.
Ironically, the event was entitled 'National Youth Forum: Handling Serious Crime and Gangsterism'.
After fielding a few more questions from the media, Khairy abruptly ended the press conference and walked away.
When approached afterwards by Malaysiakini about the PCA again, Khairy merely replied, "The press conference is over, the press conference is over," as he strode off.
On Thursday, Khairy denied comparisons by critics that the PCA amendments are in essence the same as the repealed Internal Security Act (ISA), but had declined to specifically comment on the reintroduction of indefinite detention without judicial review.
The Rembau MP at the time said he was overseas and could not comment on the matter until he could get more information at the next cabinet meeting.
However today, Khairy still sidestepped the matter even though the cabinet met yesterday.
Khairy (left) ducked questions on the matter at a press conference in Kuala Lumpur today and later left the scene when chased down by Malaysiakini on the matter."I want to talk about my forum, PCA is another forum. I think you came to the wrong forum," he said when asked about the controversial law that the government claims will help combat crime.
Ironically, the event was entitled 'National Youth Forum: Handling Serious Crime and Gangsterism'.
After fielding a few more questions from the media, Khairy abruptly ended the press conference and walked away.
When approached afterwards by Malaysiakini about the PCA again, Khairy merely replied, "The press conference is over, the press conference is over," as he strode off.
On Thursday, Khairy denied comparisons by critics that the PCA amendments are in essence the same as the repealed Internal Security Act (ISA), but had declined to specifically comment on the reintroduction of indefinite detention without judicial review.The Rembau MP at the time said he was overseas and could not comment on the matter until he could get more information at the next cabinet meeting.
However today, Khairy still sidestepped the matter even though the cabinet met yesterday.
The PCA amendments were tabled in Parliament on Wednesday, raising the ire of the Bar Council as well as their counterparts in Sabah and Sarawak for not being consulted.
'Prevention better than cure'
Earlier when launching the forum, Khairy said that crime prevention was two -pronged, through enforcement of law and prevention where the Youth and Sports Ministry came in.
"The PCA gives power to handle organised crime but equally important is what the government can do through the Youth and Sports Ministry at the fundamental level so youths do not fall into gangsterism or organised crime," he said.
As such, he said the government was mulling the setting up an intervention programme to help high risks youths at the early stages, starting in schools.
'Prevention better than cure'
Earlier when launching the forum, Khairy said that crime prevention was two -pronged, through enforcement of law and prevention where the Youth and Sports Ministry came in.
"The PCA gives power to handle organised crime but equally important is what the government can do through the Youth and Sports Ministry at the fundamental level so youths do not fall into gangsterism or organised crime," he said.
As such, he said the government was mulling the setting up an intervention programme to help high risks youths at the early stages, starting in schools.
After identifying them, we will work with NGOs to create a family support structure or mentor system so they get emotional protection and build a strong identity and morals," he said.
He added the programme will also identify the talents of these high risk individuals and hone them so they would have an alternative career other than crime.
"Why not that they join youth associations instead of joining organised crime? This is something we should look into," he said.
He added the programme will also identify the talents of these high risk individuals and hone them so they would have an alternative career other than crime.
"Why not that they join youth associations instead of joining organised crime? This is something we should look into," he said.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.