Don't hide sensitive info as data can be useful to prevent crimes, Yeoh tells enforcement agencies
SERDANG, April 6 — Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh said today she hopes Malaysia's enforcement agencies will be more transparent with their information sharing, as public data can help communities.
Citing her experience tackling suicide cases as the Subang Jaya assemblyman, she said the communities can do a better job policing themselves if authorities are more transparent with their data,
"Data is powerful as without data you cannot plan interventions. At the ministry, I want data on social problems as the money we spend must be targeted at solving these problems and not just doing leadership programmes.
"We are dealing with bankrupt youths. If we give the information to the people. they can make better decisions or be more cautious. Without it, we cannot help the masses," she said during a forum at Universiti Putra Malaysia here.
Yeoh related how, during her town hall sessions on suicide, many were clueless as to why their loved ones had taken their lives. Yeoh said they just wanted to be educated and learn but due to a lack of data, it was hard to find a solution.
Additionally, Yeoh warned that children suffer from internet and social media addiction and exhibit withdrawal symptoms by acting out when they are denied internet access.
Yeoh said the way things are now, authorities can only help 10 per cent, those who know how to find information. The remaining 90 per cent of the population would still be stuck in the doldrums.
To prevent this, she said youth organisations can play a part if they are given an opportunity. Policies and methodologies should be geared towards transparency and not secrecy.
"I think it's important to give people opportunities. Create platforms and sell them a vision. Give young people the right vision and tell them what you want to achieve.
"The struggle they face is when there's no vision for them. That's why data sharing is crucial. If you give it to a youth organisation and tell them there are lots of drowning cases in the area, they would be able to think of a solution but if we don't share it we can't do anything. I believe in open data and we should start sharing it," she added.
* If you are lonely, distressed, or having negative thoughts, Befrienders offers free and confidential support 24 hours a day. A full list of Befrienders contact numbers and state operating hours is available here: www.befrienders.org.my/centre-in-malaysia. There are also free hotlines for young people. Talian Kasih at 15999 (24/7); and Talian BuddyBear at 1800-18-2327(BEAR)(daily 12pm-12am).
