TAKING into account the important role Henry Gurney schools play in our country and after 60 years of gaining our independence from the British, the government should consider changing the name “Henry Gurney” .
Henry Gurney was established in Malaysia under the Juvenile Courts Act 1947 (Act 90), which has now been abolished and replaced with another act to care for young offenders.
The name was adopted upon its official opening by Sir Henry Gurney on May 15, 1950.
Gurney was a British colonial administrator who served in various posts throughout the British empire.
He was killed by communist insurgents in 1951 during the Malayan Emergency between 1948 and 1960 while serving as high commissioner in the Federation of Malaya.
Currently, there are several Henry Gurney schools in the country: Telok Mas, Melaka (all-boys); Kota Kinabalu, Sabah (all-girls); Keningau, Sabah (all-boys); Puncak Borneo, Sarawak (all-boys); and Batu Gajah, Perak (all-girls).
The programmes run by Henry Gurney are rehabilitative in
nature, which are divided into
four categories: orientation, strengthening self-personality, vocational training, and pre-free programme.
The Henry Gurney schools have provided many opportunities for offenders to change their early misguided behaviour and allow them to become useful members of society.
Because of the significant role played by the schools in the rehabilitation of wayward youths and children, the name Henry Gurney should be changed to reflect the programmes carried out and Malaysia’s 60 years of independence.
Dr Muzaffar Syah Mallow
Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Syariah Law, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia