Child rights groups have lauded Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Zahid Hamidi’s decision to call for a review of the current juvenile justice system.

Yesterday, at the convention on transformation measures towards a crime-free generation, Zahid said the existing criminal laws in relation to juveniles were too focused on punitive measures and needed to be re-examined in response to the 159 children arrested under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 and Prevention of Crime Act 1959.

He said the focus should be on rehabilitation to prevent juveniles from committing serious offences in the future as a prison term may not be an ideal solution because they may be influenced by other, more hardened inmates.

While praising Zahid’s call for a review, Voice of the Children chairperson, Sharmila Sekaran, highlighted two aspects that should be looked into: what constitutes a crime and what sentence should be handed down.

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