Eliminate Gangsterism in School

Crime and violence in schools is threatening the well-being of the young people
in Malaysia. Before we dwell into the issue gangsterism, let us try to make a distinction
between gangs and gangsterism. Gangs are not necessarily bad but gangsterism
invariably is. According to the Oxford dictionary, the term "Gangsters" can be defined as
- a member of a group of violent criminals and gangsterism can be described as the use
of tactics associated with gangsters, as intimidation or violence, in order to achieve
something. (Gangsterism among teenagers in Malaysia, Alagappar,P)
The youth gang issues in Malaysia have been frequently reported by the media.
In 2006, news published in Daily Express regarding gang fights and police rounded up
eleven boys, among them were four secondary school students. In the same year, a
group school girls engaged in gang fight by bullying another student was reported (The
Star, 2006). Moreover, according to the statistical figure brought out by Tan Sri
Muhyiddin Yassin during the Parliamentary session on June 9, 2010 portrays the
number of students who involved with gangsterism. From the figure, it stated that the
number of students nearly doubled since 2005. It begins with 32 cases recorded and
the numbers reach its high peak on 2008 with the value of 81. Although the number had
slightly decreased to 60 cases in 2009 but the number still considered high compared to
the earlier cases recorded in 2005. It is claimed that gangsterism is on the rise and even
gone out of control.
Gangsterism "contaminates" the school environment and jeopardizes the
educational process. There can be serious long-standing effect such as physical,
emotional and psychological implications for both teachers and pupils including:
distress, reduced self-esteem, risk of depression and suicide, reduced school
attendance, impaired concentration, fear and a diminished ability to learn (WHO, 1997).
Not only do gangsters' activities pose a threat to the core business of the ministry of
education, but also the teaching and learning process is also hindered by such
practices. It is clearly seen that when bullying continues and a school does not take
action, the entire school climate and culture can be negatively affected.
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Many feel that gangsterism is caused by the teenager himself. However, this
phenomenon is actually caused by the influence of peer group who also involve in such
activities. During this period, teenagers are very sensitive and do not want to feel left
out by their peers. In order to win the respect from their friends, they join the gangs.
Challenges from their peer group will make them not to feel frightened anymore in doing
bad things especially in school, while they are involved themselves in gangsterism. In
short, peer group is the main reason of the gangsterism happened among teenagers
because for them, only their friends will understand better their feelings so, whatever
their friends do, they will follow it even though they realize it is a wrong action.
Statistics and studies on gangsterism indicate most student gangsters hail from
poor backgrounds or broken families whereby they lack attention and love from the
family members propelling them to behave in such a manner. Most of the parents
nowadays are busy with their works and not concern about their childrens
psychological condition and could not understand their childrens feeling. Some of these
children resort to violence and crimes as a mean to seek attention and as an outlet for
their frustration and unhappiness. They also tend to express themselves by violence.
For them, they have a strong sense of belonging and identity in gang. This sense let
them feel more comfortable than living in a world that no one understands them. In
short, it is undeniable that lack of parental care contributes to the results of teenagers
ending up as gangsters in school.
Gangsterism is a social phenomenon of concern that has become an epidemic
that is spreading in schools. Gangsterism that has been terrorising the community can
be curbed more effectively through various approaches. Firstly, the high school phase is
the focal point. At this stage, gangsterism must be addressed. The degree of social
contact is at its peak during school hours. Different individuals with different
personalities blend together on this one platform. It is here that the mind goes astray
and decisions are made based on the influences of friends and those that may not have
proper guidance at home. These particular groups of individuals are the ones teachers
need to focus on as they will have great influence on others. One could say that they
have tasted and experienced the indulgence of excessive freedom and are viewed with
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immense envy by those who have to constantly comply with all the rules laid down for
them. This is where the problem arises. With the freedom these individuals have at
hand, they are exposed to unhealthy activities and places such as arcade centres,
billiard joints and shabby malls. These are places where school children are exposed to
outside parties. These outside parties then take advantage of the school kids by
introducing them to unhealthy activities such as smoking, gambling, drugs, alcohol and
fighting. Gradually, this would lead to character change as our children would become
bolder in breaking the rules and reacting violently to situations. High school kids are
often targeted by these outside parties as easy recruits to join their unlawful
associations. Students are promised protection from bullies and even the school
authorities for a small monthly fee. This monthly fee accumulates, given that the recruits
keep recruiting new members to their group. Unknowingly, they are indirectly financing
these outside parties to become a bigger menace to society. School authorities
including discipline masters and teachers must assist the local authorities in any way
possible to uncover the real masterminds behind these unlawful assemblies and gangrelated fights. Consultation should be implemented in every school to allow students to
express their thoughts and problems that they may have, whether in school or at home.
(Gangsterism Starts In Schools, August 13, 2010)

Parents play the most vital role in a childs progress in life and if a child
encounters a problem, parents should be the antidote. Hence, proper guidance and
education by parents is an excellent way to nurture youngsters to stay on the right path.
Supervision given at home plays an integral role in shaping ones character and
personality. Community empowerment projects such as parent workshop should be
organized to educate the parents how to communicate effectively to their children in all
circumstances. Personal sessions from time to time would be a good way to really
understand what our children are facing or going through in school. Allowing our
children to have someone they can refer to in times of need can give them a certain
measure of assurance and comfort. Parents or guardians should also help them to give
their children with love, respect and always to be concerned them to reduce they join

gangsterism in schools. They should also provide their children with a good religious
and moral background.
Apart from that, the police can help to fight the occurrences of gangs recruiting in
schools targeting vulnerable youngsters. The Education and Higher Learning Ministry
has proposed that the police set up a special department which help schools monitor
students' activities to curb crime and gangsterism in problematic schools nationwide.
Auxiliary police is roped into this department to be trained to deal with the problem as
the presence of police will absolutely help to deter the recruitment of school children into
triad gangs. Police patrols around school areas can be increased as recruitment into
triad gangs starts in school compounds where the gangs usually targeted youths from
the urban poor, who came from broken families and lived in flats near their schools.
Moreover, the police can show their support for crime prevention clubs in schools by
giving speeches to raise awareness on the consequences of gangsterism among
students.
In conclusion, it is sad, that many teenagers are being influence to this
gangsterism. The worst part is that teenagers are said to be the leaders of tomorrow.
We are all aware that gangsterism is a serious society illness yet why are we not taking
any action to stop this issue? We tend to neglect, thinking that it is not our responsibility
to overcome this problem. As the member of society, all of us play an important role in
handling this thing. How do we start off? How can we stop this issue from increasing
among our society? Do we really have a solution due to this? Yes we do, but every one
of us has to take part in this! Thus, all parties such as parents, teachers, schools, the
community must work together to overcome; solve problems and issues related to
combat gangsterism in schools so that gangsterism among students can be contained
and eliminated at its root immediately.
(1479 words)

Refrence:
1. https://www.scribd.com/doc/56072104/Causes-and-Effects-Essay-GangsterIsm#download
2. http://www.thestar.com.my/story/?file=%2F2010%2F8%2F13%2Ffocus%2F6846139
3. http://www.ukessays.com/essays/sociology/students-involvement-in-gangs-inmalaysian-schools-sociology-essay.php
4. http://www.thesundaily.my/news/797056