IT IS nice to read that the incidence of criminal acts in Petaling Jaya is now lower. “Crime rate dips with new strategy” (Aug 21). Besides increasing patrols and placing beat bases and CCTV cameras at hot spots, the police and the government should use work as a strategy to fight crime.

Criminals are usually people who do not have employment, and if they do, they do not earn enough and do not find satisfaction in their work. People who are occupied in a purposeful activity do not think of hurting others. Education is commendable but there are many educated people who do not respect the law. Work is a better deterrent to crime.

The government should be less aggressive in promoting subsidised university education and make work more attractive to young people instead. A good number of students who go to university would be better off working because they do not really like to study. To accommodate these students, academic standards have to be lowered so that they can pass examinations.

But a bigger problem are students in secondary school who do not have a happy family life, do not do well in school and are left pretty much on their own to solve life’s problems. These youngsters are more open to the influence of bad friends and follow them on the road to crime.

If good jobs were available to them, they would stand a much better chance to do well in life. Instead, what they can find are positions as sales assistants or waiters for RM2.50 an hour. This is a shameful pay by any standard, yet many employers think that it is enough for their workers. They don’t mind if the workers change every few days or every week as long as they don’t have to pay more. Under the circumstances, many criminals really had no choice.

The private sector should be more conscientious and pay its workers better. Employers should realise the value of their employees in building the company and give them more trust and better remuneration. If employers paid their workers better, they would not have to resort to foreign labour which, in the long run, is much less reliable and probably more expensive.

If more youngsters were purposefully employed, and if they saw a clear future, the crime rate would be much lower.

Proponents of the minimum wage have suggested that RM900 should be the minimum. This amount, however, is still too low. An employee must earn enough to pay for board, food, clothing, entertainment, and also be able to save something. For the Malaysian environment, RM1,400 would be more like it for a minimum wage.

Besides paying their workers a sufficient wage, employers should also improve working conditions, increase mechanisation and provide better training so that they need fewer employees who can do a better job. The government should strengthen the school system so that students are ready for the job market when they finish school. Students should know the language well, be good at maths, speak and write clearly, and have good general knowledge. Young people who possess these skills will be an asset to any employer.

If the government continues to aggressively promote subsidised higher education, and if the private sector continues to pay pitiful wages, those youngsters who do not like to study will be increasingly marginalised and are likely to turn to crime as a way to assert themselves.

Marisa Demori
Ipoh

Source: The Sun – August 26, 2009