Kota Kinabalu: Minister of Community Development & Consumer Affairs, Dato' Hjh Azizah Mohd Dun said the counsellor from the Public Welfare Services Department will visit the Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) student who was kidnapped and assaulted on Tuesday evening."I will instruct the counsellor to go and see the traumatised girl and her family. It is important to bring her back to normality after her ordeal," she told reporters after officiating at the Seminar on Adolescent Character Formation at the Tang Dynasty Hotel here.
On Thursday, Dr William Liew, a local professional counsellor, offered to provide counselling to the victim and her family.
Azizah, who is Klias Assemblywoman, gave police a pat on the back for their speedy action in saving the student and apprehending the two suspects involved in the incident.
"I also commend the civic-conscious public for their co-operation. This goes to show that any problem can be resolved quickly and effectively if the authorities and the rakyat work together," she said.
From the security perspective, she hoped all public places, particularly areas prone to crime, will be adequately lit at night to avert cases of abduction in future.
Answering a reporter, Azizah saidxs: "Just because of one case, you are already saying our State is unsafe, the university is unsafe, that is not right.
Of course, the police are taking action and beefing up their manpower to patrol the area in question and keep potential criminals at bay. They are already doing their best."
Asked whether she would request the police to expedite the setting up of a police base in Kingfisher Park, she replied : "I think that one, you will have to ask them. That is a police matter."
On another development, Azizah said based on reports from Bernas and other concerned parties, Sabah has an adequate supply of rice to meet local demand. "The Sabah Office of the Domestic Trade & Consumer Affairs has been monitoring the situation, and I have been informed that there is no intention to increase the price of rice in Sabah at this point in time."
Earlier, in her opening address, Azizah advised adolescents to choose the right people as "role models".
"Pick those who have achieved success in their lives to serve as a guide," she said.
Expressing concern over moral degradation, she lamented that despite efforts made by Pemadam, the National Anti-Dadah Agency, Youth and Sports Ministry, media and other agencies to curb social ills, dadah abuse, prostitution, promiscuous sex, loitering and patronising amusement centres until the wee hours of the morning continue to be on the rise.
"Take the case of Sufiah Yusof, the Maths prodigy who entered the Oxford University at the age of 13. Today, regrettably, she has chosen prostitution as her profession in life. All we can do is pray for her to return to the right path of life."
Azizah urged the students to steer clear of amusement centres to avoid being caught in raids.
"Don't get me wrong. I am not saying that you cannot have entertainment at all. You can enjoy yourselves in a decent manner and with your family at socially acceptable places," she said, adding that the indiscriminate act of baby dumping is also a worrying trend.
Some 162 upper secondary students from 25 schools in the KK Division attended the seminar organised by the Sabah Women's Advisory Council (MPWS) Social Committee.
The main speakers were Chief Inspector Marzuki Mohamad from the Narcotic Criminal Investigation Department, Royal Malaysian Police and SMK Perempuan Likas Counsellor Hjh Ananglangka Mad Kassim.
Also present were MPWS Chairperson Datin Asnimar Hj Sukardi and MPWS Social Committee Chairman Datuk Dr Chua Kim Hing who was also the Seminar Organising Chairman.
In her address, Asnimar, who is Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Community Development & Consumer Affairs, said the seminar was a follow-up action to the findings of the study on women's involvement in dadah that was carried out in 2006 by MPWS with the co-operation of Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS).
"More attention must be given to adolescent students as they are easily influenced by problematic students and those who have disciplinary problems or smoke as well as others who are suspended or expelled from school," she pointed out.
Based on the study, Asnimar said on the average, women drug addicts in Sabah start smoking at the age of 16, drinking alcohol at 17 and taking dadah at 19. "As for those involved in crime, their first involvement was at the age of 21."
Meanwhile Azizah wants students to emulate the voluntarism of young Japanese who do charity work at our senior citizens' homes or children's welfare institutions or school for the intellectually disabled when they come to Sabah.
"Follow good examples. Rather than waste your time on undesirable activities, be useful volunteers in the community. I hope to be able to join you when you organise a visit to a welfare home and spend time with the residents in future," she told them.
