KBS to create awareness among youths on militant activities

The Ministry of Youth and Sports (KBS) will implement a programme specifically to create awareness among the youths in the country on the dangers of militant activities.

Its minister, Khairy Jamaluddin said the ministry would implement the programme by adopting a moderate approach on the youths so that they would not be easily influenced by undesired elements.

"We will always have the programme to remind the youths, and our method is a moderate one and not through going to the Middle East to fight because we feel this is not the right way," he told reporters after attending a ceremony to distribute 'zakat' or tithes and breaking of the fast at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Jias, here last night.

Khairy, who is also the Umno Youth chief, said the youths were advised against being involved with militant activities, and should not emulate this group abroad.

The involvement of youths in such militant activities as carried out by the militant group known as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) should not be emulated, he added.

Khairy said the youths should also not emulate the action taken by several Malaysians who had gone to Iraq and Syria to fight alongside the ISIL.

"This is a very bad example and represents an extreme action and it is not a true jihad, some say they are martyrs, they are fighters but this (militant) way which is practised there is not the way," he said.

Since April 28, police had detained 19 individuals who were believed to be involved in the militant network in Syria and southern Philippines, and were tracking down five others including a university lecturer.

Meanwhile in KUALA LUMPUR, Cuepacs president Aziz Muda urged the government to revive the loyalty pledge for government employees to prevent them from being involved in any militant movement or other negative activities.

He said the 'Aku Janji' or pledge of loyalty expressed by the civil servants when they began their service with the government departments should always be renewed from time to time as a reminder to them to remain loyal to the government and country.

"The renewal of the pledge aims to create awareness so that the civil servants know of their responsibility towards the government and this can also give a positive perception on national development," he said when contacted by Bernama today.

Aziz also expressed his disappointment on the involvement of civil servants in militant movements and described it as a betrayal to the trust placed by the nation on them.

Cuepacs would cooperate with the various ministries in finding the best way to tackle the problem, he said.

In addition, he urged the government to conduct programmes aimed at educating civil servants on developing loyalty toward the country at various levels including in schools, institutions of higher learning or even at the work place.

The Cuepacs president said this when commenting on the involvement of two civil servants, who were among five Malaysian nationals being tracked down by police on suspicion of being involved in militant activities in the country.