Theft, fight, rape and burglary among top offences involving students in Johor

 

Cases involving theft, fight, rape and burglary are among the top criminal offences committed by students in Johor.

Johor Police chief Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay (photo, above) said 99 percent of those involved in these crimes were secondary students aged between 13 and 18.

Ayob Khan said even though the student arrest index declined to 538 cases from January to October this year compared to 1,230 in 2019, the trend was still worrying.

As such, he said the police had collaborated with Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) to develop the Children and Teenagers Crime Awareness Module (Mekar) to be used in the state’s 1,374 primary and secondary schools as well as institutions of higher learning.

Ayob Khan said Mekar focused on three main modules, namely narcotics, sexual harassment and social crimes, which also incorporated psychological and counselling elements to instil awareness among the students.

"If we educate (the students) at the primary school level using this module… I am confident that when they attend secondary school, they will already have awareness about crime.

"I will ensure consistent and continuous implementation (of the module)… Insyaallah, it will start after the Covid-19 pandemic is over," he told reporters at a press conference after the module launching ceremony in Iskandar Puteri today.

Also present were UTM Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation) Prof Ahmad Fauzi Ismail and Johor Education Department director Shaharuddin Saari.

Ayob Khan said that among the objectives of Mekar are to make students aware of the dangers and negative effects of crime and act as early prevention against criminal activities, thus helping to reduce the crime rate among teenagers and children in Johor.

He said Mekar would be implemented for two hours through several methods, including lectures, small group discussions and video screenings every month.

“The delivery method for these modules will be adjusted according to the target group, meaning the delivery techniques, communication elements, activities and module delivery will differ to ensure the delivery of information takes place in an effective and interactive manner," he said.

- Bernama