JUVENILE offenders can be kept from serving jail time under a pilot project called “Diversion” that Putrajaya is planning to launch, Deputy Prime Minister Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail said today.

Wan Azizah, who is also women, family and community development minister, said the project which begins next year will target minors who commit petty crimes.

“This is so that minors won’t have to be jailed.

“It will have to go through the Attorney-General Chambers (first) because the Child Act 2001 has to be amended before (the project) can be implemented,” she said after a visit to Sekolah Tunas Bakti in Sungai Besi.

The project will involve intervention modules designed according to the type of crime committed.

“The project will encompass community service, payback for any damages caused, and counselling.”

According to statistics from the Welfare Department, there were 4,866 cases of juvenile crime in 2016, involving 4,607 males and 279 females.

The number of cases increased by 11% the following year, involving 5,146 males and 297 females.

Most of the cases were drug-related with an increase of 36%. Crimes involving properties increased by 31%.

Wan Azizah said jail was not always the best way to rehabilitate minors involved in crime, as the psychological effect of being in jail could be worse than the crime itself.

“That is why diversion should be done as an alternative for rehabilitation. I believe that minors can change and become future leaders.” – November 8, 2018.