KUALA LUMPUR: All suggestions and motions raised in the Malaysian Youth Parliament will be forwarded to the cabinet for deliberation.
Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek said he was satisfied with the way the session was conducted and was proud with the members of the Youth Parliament who thoroughly discussed the issues.
"The motions presented and discussed by the members were supported by facts and additional information from relevant sources.
“All matters raised here will be given due attention and will be brought to the cabinet for consideration.
“Some of the key matters raised, for example, were on actions that need to be taken on sex offenders and paedophiles. This is something that must be given special attention,” he told reporters after attending the second session of this year's Malaysian Youth Parliament at the Dewan Rakyat today.
Shabery said he hoped matters raised in the Youth Parliament would serve as a foundation for the government to enact new laws or amend existing laws, which he noted that if it happened, would make history.
Shabery said the Youth Parliament programme, which is an opportunity for the youth to bring forth their ideas through the democratic process, would be given due attention to ensure its continuity.
The second Youth Parliament session, attended by 115 youth leaders, convened on Monday, where they debated four motions over the course of two days (Tuesday and Wednesday).
Among the motions discussed were the need to amend Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 and the need to preserve the nation's sovereignty in light of the South China Sea territorial dispute with China.
It also covered topics related to security, justice and integrity, and harmony and peace.
Meanwhile, Mohd Firdaus Ahmad, a representative from Kedah, had proposed chemical castration as capital punishment for child sex offenders or paedophiles in the country.
"In May, Indonesian President Joko Widodo was reported to have authorised chemical castration for convicted child sex offenders. Such punishment is also practised in a number of countries like South Korea, Poland, Russia and some states in the United States.
“Such punishment can instill fear among offenders.”
Selangor representative Muhamad Ridhwan Muhamad Rosli proposed for the establishment of a special sex offenders' online database on paedophiles for public reference.
"Such measures have been implemented in many countries so that the public can refer or check their profile online if there are doubts on their behaviour," he said.
Youth Parliament members had also urged the government to consider establishing a Youth Parliamentary Institution under the Youth Societies and Youth Development Act 2007.
Johor representative, Akmal Saufi Mohamed Khaled said the Youth Parliament should be made into an institution to ensure its continuity as a platform for youth to raise concerns and voice their opinions.
"At the moment, the Youth Parliament is only a programme under the Youth and Sports Ministry. It benefits members and a lot of suggestions have been brought to the cabinet that helps the government in decision making.
"We want to take a step forward to ensure the continuity of this programme because if there happena to be a change in policy at ministerial level or if there is a change in the ruling party in the future, it might affect the programme.”
The motion was later supported by Perak representative, Nur Najihah Muhaimin who said that with the formation of the institution, the Youth Parliament should be given recognition on par with the Malaysian Parliament.