Time: 2.30pm to 6.00pm
Venue:
Global Indian Secondary
School, 242,
Lorong Sultan Abdul Samad, Kuala Lumpur
On June 2, 2013 about 35 of
us gathered in a discussion on ‘Inclusive Development and the Indian Community’.
Since then we have had 6 small group discussions on specific issues and also a
number of field visits to urban poor high rise flat neighbourhoods.
We have created a blog - http://forumonurbanpoverty.blogspot.com/
which documents brief reports and pictures of these events. Please view these
to review the work done as well as to inform us on what is the next course of
action and response.
In recent days with the news
on rise of gang fights, shootings and the Home Affairs information on the
ethnic breakdown of gangs reveal an alarming figure of 71.7% of gang members from
the Indian community. The figures given are 28, 926 Indians are directly
involved in gang related activities.
The community responses to
this news have been diverse. Some want tough Police action on crime and gang
activities, so as to ensure safety and security. Some are questioning these
figures as racial profiling. Others have called for a balanced approach for
tough action on crime through strengthening law and order approaches on the one
hand but at the same time addressing socio-economic deprivation on the other
hand. It is felt that one can approach this issue from a needs based and human
rights approach.
It is in this context that
we need to seek a national and comprehensive approach to solving gang related
crime in Malaysian society. The approach is not to ethicise crime but to find
solutions which will address both personal and structural issues bringing short
term and long term solutions.
The macro policy
implications rest on Urban Poverty which is given very low priority in public
policy discussions. The current delivery agencies at Federal, State and local
government levels are not addressing the local issues and concerns pertaining
to crime, violence and gangs in urban poor communities in Malaysia.
There needs to be a dynamic response
from the community which should seeks to address community concerns not from an
ethnic perspective but from a national one using public funds and community
funds.
Multiple interventions focusing
on crime prevention among high risk youths is needed. At the same time an effective
rehabilitation and aftercare program is essential to find long term solutions
to crime, gangs and violence which have tremendous impact on both family and
neighbourhood systems. These require moving beyond a law and order approach to be
inclusive of addressing socio-economic needs. In addition the issues pertaining
to urban poverty, inequality, displacement, alienation and equality of
opportunities must be addressed.
Please confirm participation
at jayasooriadenison@gmail.com
For directions please
contact Mr Krishna Kumar of GIIS, Brickfields at 016 2257320
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