Articles & News

May 24, 2008

Move to clear backlog of juvenile cases

KUALA LUMPUR: More than 2,000 juvenile prisoners and another 400 currently under remand can soon look forward to a new lease of life when a special taskforce set up by the Government helps clear their cases.

“Some of them have been waiting three years for their cases to be heard. We want to get them back into the system, as we don’t want their future to be destroyed,” said Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Dr Ng Yen Yen.

These juveniles, below the age of 18, had mostly committed petty crimes such as not being able to pay their fine for not carrying their MyKad, while some were in prison for selling pirated DVDs and so on, she said.

She said the taskforce was formed last year with the involvement of non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

“The taskforce will work closely with the police, courts, Attorney-General’s chambers and judiciary to ensure a smooth fast-track process,” Dr Ng told reporters Wednesday after opening a two-day workshop on Children’s Protection Policy and Action Plan at a hotel here.

Welfare organisation Shelter Home executive director James Nayagam, who was also present at the function, said the taskforce hoped to clear at least half the cases by this year.

He said the youngest juvenile currently in prison was 13 years old, and that it was not fair to place these children in prison for the petty crimes that they had committed.

Asked what steps they hoped to take, Nayagam said for example, those under remand could appeal for reduced fines.

“Once we get them out from prison or the detention centres, we need to ensure proper placements for them,” he added.

On the workshop, Dr Ng said it was organised especially to get feedback from NGOs before the final draft of the children’s protection policy and action plan was presented to the Cabinet towards the end of June.