PUTRAJAYA, Oct 24 — The Chief Secretary to the Government will make the necessary amendments to allow former juvenile delinquents to be given the chance to serve in the public sector, said Youth and Sports Minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman.
Syed Saddiq said the government must also take the same initiative by giving former juvenile delinquents a second chance and not place the social responsibility solely on the private sector.
“We cannot just tell the private sector to give them a second chance, but we in the government will not do the same,” he told the media after launching the Youth and Sports Sills Training Institute (ILKBS) Symposium here today.
Displaying leadership by example, earlier this year Syed Saddiq took in former Henry Gurney School student Emam Safekri Ahmad Ghas, to work in his office.
Syed Saddiq said he had brought up this matter (giving former juvenile delinquents a second chance) in the Cabinet Meeting.
According to Syed Saddiq, most of the Henry Gurney School students were youths who had committed minor offences.
“When they do not have jobs, no direction in life, and we do not offer any help, in the end, they will re-offend, and go back into the same system.
“That is why we must break the cycle of crime. Help them, give them a second chance so that they can re-enter society as contributing members of the community,” he said.
Syed Saddiq said his ministry was committed to helping problematic youths get jobs through programmes like ‘My Future Youth’, ‘My Future Youth Plus’ and the ‘Yellow Ribbon’.
He said under the ‘My Future Youth Plus’ programme, youths at risk will be given early intervention and special passage in technical and vocational education and training areas before they are offered jobs.
The ‘Yellow Ribbon’ and ‘My Future Youth’ programmes are for youths who are under supervision and former students of Henry Gurney School.
“We will give them training so that even if they have a record, they will have skills, and later placed in companies which we have collaborated with,” he said.
— BERNAMA
