Inactive neighbourhood watch due to poor youth participation

 

Poor participation of young people has been identified as the reason why a total of 974 Neighbourhood Watch Areas nationwide became inactive.

Deputy National Unity Minister Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal (above) said this was because neighbourhood watches were synonymous with pensioners while young people were seen to be ‘avoiding’ the system.

“I believe we need to look into why neighbourhood watches are dying and it could be because the youngsters are shying away from the programme.

“And now, National Unity Minister Halimah Mohamed Sadique has decided that neighbourhood watches that are no longer active and have not submitted their reports will no longer receive the annual grant of RM6,000,” he told reporters at an Aidilfitri feast in Kampung Tersusun Jalan Gula, Simpang Empat Semanggol, near Bagan Serai, yesterday.

On March 25, Halimah said a total of 974 neighbourhood watches nationwide were found to be inactive, and they risk not benefiting from the allocation of RM5.6 million.

Wan Ahmad Fayhsal said the ministry would collaborate with the Youth and Sports Ministry to attract more young people to join the watches.

“In terms of its implementation, it is still under scrutiny between the two ministries. We want to restructure and rejuvenate the programme with the involvement of young people,” he added.

- Bernama