Dr Maximus Ongkili Appointed As MCPF Chairman
Tuesday, 11 May 2004 (Source: Bernama)

KUALA LUMPUR: Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Dr Maximus Ongkili has been appointed the new chairman of the Malaysian Crime Prevention Foundation (MCPF) replacing Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

His appointment was approved by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi recently to reduce Najib's work load, said Dr Ongkili in a press conference, Tuesday.

Earlier, he chaired the MCPF executive councillors' first meeting this year at the Senior Police Training College in Cheras here.

He said the meeting reappointed Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Mohd Bakri Omar as the foundation's deputy chairman.

Deputy Inspector-General Datuk Seri Mohd Sidek Mohd Ali, and Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye and Datuk Henry Chin Poy Wu, were appointed as vice chairmen of the foundation.

Dr Ongkili also said a permanent committee would be set up to help former prisoners and ex-drug addicts. It would be headed by Prisons Department Director-General Datuk Mustapha Osman.

"The committee will focus on the rehabilitation of former prisoners and other convicts who keep returning to prisons or other rehabilitation centres," he said.

He said the committee would gather information from them to identify why they returned to their bad habits and were imprisoned again.

"MCPF believes that before holding programmes or giving advice to the group, we have to understand their problems or needs to reduce the number of recidivists in the country," he said.

He added that MCPF would also try to get allocation and logistical aid from the government to help non-governmental organisations (NGO) to organise more special programmes to guide this group of people.

"Although MCPF often stresses on crime prevention, the foundation also would like to play a role in removing negative stigma which may prevent former prisoners and ex-drug addicts from getting employment or living a healthier lifestyle," he said.

Meanwhile, Dr Ongkili said the foundation would spend RM89,600 to train teachers to be advisors for Crime Prevention Clubs in schools.

Special training will be given particularly to teachers from schools identified by the Education Ministry as problematic or having discplinary problems.