Need to review juvenile laws: Ahmad Zahid

KUALA LUMPUR: There is a need for the juvenile laws in Malaysia to be reviewed, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said today.

Ahmad Zahid, who is also the Home Minister, said punishments on the underage should be corrective rather than punitive.

He said corrective education institutions, such as the Henry Gurney school, were among the effective measures in dealing with juvenile law offenders.

"If juveniles were placed in prison, it will only allow them to learn crimes that are more serious. Prison will only become a training school for crime.

"That is why we separate them to Henry Gurney and other institutions. Many of them managed to be rehabilitated after being released," he said.

"Such methods and the current criminal laws on juveniles need to be enhanced," he told a press conference, after opening the Crime Prevention Education Convention at the Bank Rakyat building.

More to come