REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, BOGOR -- Minister of Social Affairs Khofifah Indar Parawansa has asked ulemas (Muslim scholars) to cooperate with police and regional governments to prevent mugging crimes against motorists.

"Police and military officers have worked hard. I appeal to ulemas and religious teachers to take part in safeguarding children from actions that breach the law," the minister said when attending a graduation ceremony and anniversary celebration of the birth of Prophet Muhammad at Tansyitul Muta'alimin Islamic Boarding School, in Bojong Gede here on Sunday, March 1.

She said that mugging crimes targeting motorists that were rampant in various regions in recent days were commonly committed by youths.

These conditions raised concerns. Religious teachers must play an important role in safeguarding youths from violent acts and narcotics.

"The efforts made by police, district heads and military personnel are not enough. I appeal to teachers to increase their good deed by educating youths to prevent them from committing the crimes," she said.

The issue of mugging crimes that target people riding motorcycles has been spotlighted in the security sector in Jakarta and its surrounding areas this week following an incident in Pondok Aren, South Tangerang, where the mugger was arrested by the crowd and immolated.

The alleged mugger was set alight by an angry mob February 24, said Martinus Sitompul. "There were four robbers, but only one was caught by the mob that took the law into their own hands and killed the thief," Jakarta Police Spokesman Sr. Comr. Martinus Sitompul said.

In the meantime, Culture and Elementary and Secondary Education Minister Anies Baswedan said he was ready to follow Vice-President Jusuf Kalla's instruction to study the phenomenon of rampant mugging among youths.

"I will look into the matter from an educational aspect. The education of a youth happens in three places: school, house, and surroundings. We have to cooperate with parents and with people in their surroundings," Minister Baswedan said here on Saturday.

Earlier, Vice-President Jusuf Kalla observed there could be something wrong with the Indonesian education system that is not able to prevent youths from committing mugging.

Minister Baswedan noted that violence among youths could be the result of the huge presence of video games. "We have to study the types of video games that contain violence and are massive in circulation," he added.

According to the minister, because of constantly playing violent video games, children are not able to differentiate between virtual violence and real violence.

"We, parents, teachers, and our surroundings, have to control this," he pointed out.

The minister has asked school principals, homeroom teachers, and preceptors to be sharp and firm while dealing with violence.

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