Being a bad parent is a sign of not having learned from experience.
— Mokokoma Mokhonoana, philosopher, author and social critic
What’s up with our kids nowadays? Or would it be more appropriate if I asked what’s wrong with parents these days?
Teenagers are dying unnecessarily on the roads like frogs – mati katak!
The whole country knows what happened on April 13. The High Court in Johor Bahru overturned two earlier judgements of a Magistrate’s Court on April 10 last year and September 2019 in acquitting and discharging sales promotor Sam Ke Ting for reckless driving in which eight basikal lajak (modified bicycles) teenage cyclists aged between 13 and 16 were killed in Johor Bahru in the wee hours of February 18, 2017.
Understandably, Malaysians sympathise with the families of the deceased kids.
Understandably too, we sympathise with Sam.
With the issue still fresh in our minds, yet another tragic incident occurred. Again teenagers were involved. This time three, aged 15 to 16 years, were killed while another, aged 17 years, was injured in an accident involving three motorcycles in Pasir Gudang, Johor on April 22.
In the 10.30pm incident, the victims were apparently racing each other when their motorcycles grazed each other, causing the riders to be thrown off and landing heavily on the road.
A police chief investigating the fatal accident, Superintendent Mohd Sohaimi Ishak, reminded parents to monitor their underage children and be in the know about their activities.
Now, this is not the first time law enforcers or our leaders have advised parents or guardians to monitor young children under their care. But all the appeals and advices have fallen on deaf ears.
Even Singapore’s iconic stand-up comedian Kumar in a recent TikTok social networking service video was fuming mad with our basikal lajak kids and their parents.
Now there seems to be a “new game” among Malaysian teens – challenging one another to lie down on the road while vehicles pass by.
A visibly upset Kumar took parents of the kids to task. “If parents are not emotionally, mentally, financially and physically ready to nurture a child, please don’t give birth! And if your child becomes a troublemaker educate your child. Don’t point your fingers at other people. Hello, homeless people on the street have some dignity lah.”
Watching the TikTok clip would certainly make anyone mad. What were the kids doing lying on the road. Don’t they know they are putting other road? users at risk too? If you want to leave this world early, that’s your problem. Don’t bring other people with you!
Sometimes I wonder if it’s wise to allow young people to get married, especially those who are not emotionally or physically ready, as pointed out by Kumar.
If you are a parent, you already know how stressful it can be to raise a strong, independent, compassionate child, and to make sure that they grow up to be contributing citizens.
It’s about time out legislators imposed laws to hold parents responsible for their children’s action.
In the US for example, parents can be held liable for any wilful misconduct causing injury, death or property damage by a minor under the age of 18. Parents may also be liable for damages resulting from a child’s negligent acts while driving or riding a vehicle with the parents’ permission.
Malaysian activist Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye has suggested that the government work with non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to conduct more awareness campaigns for parents and guardians to make them aware that action can be taken against those who are negligent and leave their children without proper supervision.
He says they could be prosecuted under Section 33 of the Child Act 2001. But it would seem many are still unaware of the existence of the law.
Section 33 of the Child Act 2001 stipulates that legal action can be taken against parents and guardians for leaving their children without reasonable supervision which could result in a fine not exceeding RM20,000 or imprisonment not exceeding five years or both, if convicted.
In developed countries, negligent parents face the risk of imprisonment if found guilty of exposing their children to risks.
Lee says our legislators need to see to what extent the effectiveness of the Child Act 2001 is enforced as “accidents involving children or minors continue to occur unabated”.
The failure of parents to monitor their children’s movements and their couldn’t-care-less attitude is a tragedy that needs to be addressed.
Back to the basikal lajak kids, I pray the authorities can take action under the Child Act against parents whose children are caught using basikal lajak.
Parents should not be allowed to get off scot-free. Put them behind bars if they still adopt a nonchalant attitude!
