TWO video clips surfaced on social media last month showing secondary students flaunting their association with the notorious Gang 24 triad group and “terrorising” a school in Klang.
The videos sparked a public outcry. Netizens called on authorities to take punitive action against the teenagers. They also played the blame game over what they saw as a failure of “the system” to educate these youth.
It’s easy to point fingers, but have we asked ourselves about the role we should have played, but failed to, thus contributing to this social illness?
German author Jean Paul once said: “The conscience of children is formed by the influences that surround them; their notions of good and evil are the result of the moral atmosphere they breathe.”
It appears that society is becoming more individualistic. We choose the easy way of compartmentalising our children and families according to what we see as separating good from evil. Instead of coming together and creating a better environment to raise the future generation, many only care about protecting their own.
The culture of jangan jaga tepi kain orang (mind one’s own business), as Federal Police Criminal Investigation Department director Datuk Seri Mohmad Salleh pointed out recently, is to blame.
“Families only take care of their own. Jangan jaga tepi kain orang is becoming a cancer in society. It is time for us to move away from this.
“We must be busybodies, have social awareness and take note of what is happening around us and help the authorities,” he said.
It’s easy to shun problems, but social illness has the very same effect of unvaccinated children; over time, if there is no intervention, the problem gets worse.
Our education system has somehow pushed a wider gap between what educators deem as “clever” students and academically weak students. Many schools separate students according to their academic grades. This creates segregation, with the “bright future” group feeling important, while the other believe they are unwanted and doomed to fail.
The modus operandi of secret societies is very similar to that of terror organisations. They offer those who feel ostracised a chance to be needed and useful. Paired with the youth’s rebelliousness, it wouldn’t take much for them to turn against society, which had shut the door in their face.
Police had, since the April 20 incident, arrested 41 people linked to Gang 24, including 36 teens.
While punitive action would be effective to serve as a lesson to other youth against joining gangs, it should not be the only option. Sending the young men to prison may do more harm than good.
Teens being recruited by secret societies is not new. The videos are a blessing in disguise. We are forced to see the problem for what it is, and we cannot, and should not, look away. It is time for us to act and find a solution together.
Hariz Mohd is the staff correspondent for NST Shah Alam bureau. He can be reached via harizm@nst.com.my