Published: Sunday June 21, 2009 MYT 4:32:00 PM
Lee: We need an Anti-Vandalism Act
PETALING JAYA: Vandalism cannot be tackled via education alone but must be backed by stringent legislation and strong enforcement, says a social activist.
“An Anti-Vandalism Act should be introduced to allow deterrent punishment and compulsory community service,” Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye Lee said Sunday.
He suggested the proposed law include provisions for community service, the number of hours to be determined by the relevant authorities, and a jail term of not more than three years, and caning for habitual offenders (more than three times), subject to the Criminal Procedure Code.
“Hardly a week passes without reports in the media about some form of vandalism being committed on public telephones, road signs, street lighting, parks, flats and other public amenities,” he said in a statement.
Though vandalism in Malaysia was not as severe as in countries in the West, the quantum of damage caused rendered it a serious problem that must be tackled effectively, said the vice-chairman of the Malaysian Crime Prevention Foundation.
“As it is difficult for the authorities to nab the culprits red-handed, members of the public can make a citizen’s arrest on those caught in the act of vandalism and hand them over to the authorities,” he added.
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