JUVENILE laws in the country have to reviewed to ensure offenders learn from their mistakes and are not merely punished or jailed, said Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

He said an education system should be formed to prevent repeat offenders.

Zahid, who is also deputy prime minister, said the education model implemented at Henry Gurney School could be used in efforts to restructure the Child Act 2001.

“Juvenile laws in the country have to be restudied. We cannot just punish (offenders) without educating them. The curriculum in place at Henry Gurney School is an effective one.

“Many of the young offenders who are in prison, they learn how to commit serious crimes there. The prison becomes their ‘school’ where they get ‘training’ in crime,” he told reporters today.

He said the model used at Henry Gurney School saw many young offenders being successfully “rehabilitated”, and they left the school as disciplined individuals with a proper education.

“If we put them in institutions like Henry Gurney School, they can sit the SPM and PT3 examinations. Many have left the school fully rehabilitated.”

Zahid added that 58% of Malaysians behind bars were there for drug-related activities.

It was reported last year that 159 juveniles had been arrested under the Prevention of Crime Act 1959 (Poca) and Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma).

Of the total, 142 were arrested under Poca, which allows police to detain suspects without trial, and the remainder were detained under Sosma. – January 9, 2018.