KUCHING: Parents in the city reacted in many ways to an idea mooted by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail whereby teenagers 18 years and below would not be allowed on the streets past a certain time without adult supervision.
The Cabinet Committee on Eradicating Drugs chaired by the Deputy Prime Minister had agreed on the matter in a meeting held last Jan 17.
The idea is based on regulations already in place in Iceland where children under 12 are not allowed outdoors after 8pm unless accompanied by an adult and children aged 13 to 16 after 10pm, except when they are on their way home from a sanctioned event such as those organised by schools, sports organisations and youth clubs.
New Sarawak Tribune conducted a telephone survey of parents in Kuching on the issue.
Councillor Amy Tnay Li Ping was all for the idea but with the curfew time set at midnight.
She said Iceland’s model may be perfect for that country because of its cold climate and crime rate tended to increase in winter.
“As a parent I feel that there is a lot to worry about when our children are outside late and with the Internet, children are influenced at early stages into drugs and unsafe sexual activities,” said Tnay.
Sarawak Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SSPCA) president Datin Dona Drury Wee has a different take on the matter. She feels the government should look into other means of preventive measures.
She thinks more youth and family-centric programmes involving the whole family unit is the better way to go about combating social ills such as drug abuse.
In her view parenting skills needs enhancement where parents should be encouraged to be involved in their children’s lives more directly.
“I encourage my son to bring his friends home and make an effort to get to know them. Proper parenting is the key and parents need to know who their children’s friends are.”
Wan Ibrahim Wan Omar said in principle he would agree with the idea only if the time is set at midnight.
In his view any other time set is just not practical as teenagers do have many activities at night such as religious classes or “mengaji” which typically end roughly between 9.30pm and 10pm.
“I also feel that enforcement of the law will be cumbersome and the police already have far more pressing matters to attend to daily as it is now.”
Another concern of his is the unnecessary blemish on children’s record. He pointed out that once it becomes a law and the child breaks it, essentially that child has committed a crime.
