Courtesy: Daily Express News


Special activities next year for problem youths

Kuala Lumpur: The Youth and Sports Ministry plans to have special programmes for problem youths from next year, its Minister Datuk Azalina Othman Said said.

She said the programmes, which would involve activities like motor sports, musical performances and night sports like futsal, would be held to cater to youths who while away their time unproductively like loitering.

"Officers from the Ministry are on the ground to identify the target groups and the type of activities suitable for them," she said after visiting "hot" loitering spots with several city police officers, including City Police CID Chief ACP Ramli Din, here, Sunday night.

They included those at Jalan Bukit Bintang, Jalan P.Ramlee and Lorong Haji Taib.

Azalina said that besides the police, the Ministry would also enlist the cooperation of City Hall, other ministries and youth associations to ensure the success of the programmes.

She also said a "Youth Map" programme, which involved surveys on the background, education and interests of problem youths, had been launched.

She said among the cause of loitering among youths were a lack of recreational places available for them or activities which they could indulge in for free.

"For example, for a futsal game, they have to pay RM70 for the court and when the price is costly, they spend their time loitering," she added.

She said the Ministry would also discuss with the Welfare Department to provide shelter for abandoned youth and children, like those whose mothers were prostitutes and drug addicts.

Posted by Luca Ranocchiari --> luca.ranocchiari@futsalplanet.com