James Nayagam said that through his work as chairman of Suriana Welfare Society Malaysia, he has come to realise that turning around delinquent youth was no easy task as many issues had to be taken into account when dealing with them.
“No amount of military training, exercises or drills will help sort out the baggage they carry.
“We are better off asking the offenders what they need and getting them to be responsible for their actions,” he told FMT.
Nayagam spoke of his experience in using music programmes to get through to young inmates of Kajang Prison.
“I involved them in music programmes and they loved it. Only then were they were willing to open up and talk to me about their problems,” he said.
He added that based on his research, young offenders usually came from homes where domestic violence was commonplace or where they themselves were victims of abuse. Others came from families that were dirt poor.
“Having worked with these youths, I have found that their parents too had similar experiences, which means that the same issues were passed down from one generation to the next.
“So, how is military training supposed to heal the wounds? What they need is a boost to their self-esteem and their self-worth,” Nayagam said, adding that it was important to address the “root problem” first.
Meanwhile, Suriana executive director Scott Wong said the suggestion by some quarters that young offenders be taken to the country’s prisons so they can witness for themselves what life behind bars was like, was probably a more effective strategy.
“So, sometimes, this kind of shock therapy where they see the reality and hardship faced by inmates in prison, is a better deterrent to them,” Wong told FMT.
He added that enrolling young offenders in a boot-camp may affect different individuals, differently.
“They might receive some form of discipline, but I doubt there will be any lasting impact on their lives,” he said.
It was reported recently that the New Zealand government was intending to create a boot camp for youth offenders at the Waiouru Army Camp, where they would be made to train alongside real soldiers.
New Zealand Prime Minister Bill English supported the idea, saying that it would help crack down on the most serious young offenders and hold “negligent parents” to account.