PUTRAJAYA: The Chief Secretary to the Government will make the necessary amendments to allow former juvenile delinquents to be given the chance to serve in the public sector, says Youth and Sports Minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman.
Syed Saddiq said the government must also take the same initiative by giving ex-juvenile delinquents a second chance and not place the social responsibility solely on the private sector.
“We cannot just tell the private sector to give them a second chance while we in the government will not do the same, ” he told the media after launching the Youth and Sports Skills Training Institute (ILKBS) Symposium here yesterday.
Earlier this year, Syed Saddiq took in former Henry Gurney School student Emam Safekri Ahmad Ghas to work in his office.
Syed Saddiq said he had brought up this matter to the Cabinet.
He said most of the Henry Gurney School students were youths who had committed minor offences.
“When they do not have jobs, no direction in life and we do not offer any help, they will reoffend and go back into the same system.
“We must give them a second chance so they can re-enter society as contributing members of the community.”
Syed Saddiq added that his ministry was committed to helping problematic youths get jobs through programmes like My Future Youth, My Future Youth Plus and the Yellow Ribbon.
He said that under these programmes, young people at risk will undergo early intervention and special passage in technical and vocational education and training areas before they are offered jobs.
The Yellow Ribbon and My Future Youth programmes are for those under supervision and former students of the Henry Gurney School.
“We will give them training so that even if they have a record, they will have skills and later be placed in companies which we have collaborated with, ” he added. — Bernama
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