KUALA LUMPUR: There should be zero tolerance for hooliganism and rowdy behaviour by irresponsible individuals or groups in public or private places, says Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye.
The Alliance for a Safe Community chairman said that the recent fight between football hooligans at Bandar Tasik Selatan LRT station was not an isolated case.
"In November last year, a brawl between supporters of Selangor and Perak before a Malaysian Super League match resulted in the arrest of 20 men.
Efforts by the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) to curb this hooliganism do not seem to have had the desired effect," he said on Sunday (Dec 22).
He added that the latest act of hooliganism affects many innocent commuters on public transport.
"Hooliganism should have no place in our society. We need proactive and coordinated efforts from both the police and the public to stem this tide," he said.
Social media could be used to promote peaceful dialogues between supporters of opposing teams and share positive stories and experiences, Lee added.
"There should be enhanced police presence and visibility in and around high-risk areas, especially during major sporting events. We must also promote legal consequences as a deterrent, like stiff fines, bans from attending matches, and potential criminal charges," he added.
No compromises should be made when dealing with public safety, Lee said.
"We could and should encourage members of the public to report suspicious behaviour or incidents of violence to the authorities immediately.
Implementing education programmes in schools about preventing violence and promoting goodwill and conflict resolution is also a necessary step. These measures must coincide with efforts to encourage collaborations between rival fan groups to foster understanding and mutual respect," he said.
It was reported that about 30 football fans from two groups got into a brawl at the Bandar Tasik Selatan LRT station. The chaos damaged various facilities at the station, and the video of the fight has since gone viral on social media.
