First it was drugs and kalwat (close proximity), now it is Black Metal, homosexuality and wild parties. What has gone wrong with the younger generation of Malays?

What is to be blamed for this - the lack of religious teaching, poor parental guidance, the influence of the media and internet?

Bernama speaks to a few experts to get a better understanding of the problem.

According to the Islamic Youth Movement of Malaysia (Abim) president Yusry Mohamad, Malay youths are living in a more challenging environment compared to their elders.

"There is an inflow of information and they are exposed to cultures and ideas that weaken the spirit via the internet, print media and television. This creates a collision of values," he said.

Society, he said, must not be too quick to judge or punish them. Instead, he said, things must be seen from their perspective.

On the same note, he called for a concerted effort to help them realise their errors. "We have to close the doors that lead them to negative influences."

Yusry said Malay youths must also realise that life is a race and they must be prepared for it, not waste time.

He stressed that the strength of the Malays lied in their religion and culture. "A majority of young Malays taken away from their Islamic roots and Malay values will not know the limits and become extreme."

Fun-driven environment

The Malaysian Historical Society executive committee chairperson Omar Mohd Hashim said the younger generation of Malays must know who they are, where they came from and where they want to go.

According to him, they also need an environment that will drive them to be individuals with strong character.

"The current environment drives towards fun. Look at it, any fares or celebrations, almost 98 percent of those present will be Malays," he said.

On the same note, he believed that development has also played a role in shaping the younger generation.

"Before this, the Malays stayed in villages and many began migrating to the city in the 1970s. They suffered a culture shock and the improvement in living standards brought about many social problems for both the parents and their children."

He said Malay youths were also exposed to many things such as the media and internet.

"I don't blame these kids. They are like a white cloth and various designs can be added to it. If parents to do not imprint their design, others would and this is the current tragedy," he added.

Poor parenting

Another major weakness identified in the shaping of character is poor parenting among the Malays.

"Nobody learns to be a parent but the Malays take it too easy in this matter. They don't care and don't want to discipline their children. They love their children to the point that they cannot say 'no'.

"Maybe they feel guilty for not being able to give their children the proper attention because they are busy so if the parents are rich they use money to compensate for not being able to spend time with their kids," said Omar.

Motivation expert Mohd Fadzilah Kamsah said children with weak religious foundation will be easily influenced by unhealthy elements.

He said parents are fully responsible for their children and when they fail to be the first influence, other factors become important.

"My research showed that parents have an 80 percent influence rate on their kids and if the parents fail, friends, environment, television and movies become important."

The urbanisation process has eroded the family system of the Malays and this too contributes to the current problem.

Both parents are forced to work due to the high living cost and children are left alone or in the care of babysitters.

Hence, Omar noted that it will be the babysitter and not the parents who will shape the child's character.

"We need programmes to stress on the importance of education for female students, not only to become engineers and doctors but to prepare them to become a wife and mother," he said.

No major agendas

Malay youths also lack a major agenda and goals in life, according to Omar and Fadzilah.

"When there is a big agenda, people become great. The agenda controls our lives. After May 13, the Malays were united, but now it is forgotten. So when there is no big agenda, Akademi Fantasia becomes an agenda," said Fadzilah

He also explained why Malay youths were more inclined towards entertainment.

"Our children are more drawn towards entertainment because this is what they are exposed to. They see the artistes living glamourously and rich. Look at the magazines out there, they are all entertainment magazines. This is what shapes the Malay agenda. Who is on the front-page, celebrities, singers so whose fault is it? These are their unofficial teachers," he said.

Fadzilah said he discovered that almost 80 percent of Malay students in forms four and five do not have any goals in life.

This is an impressionable age where they look for an identity, so enter Black Metal and drugs, he added.

Meanwhile, Omar noted that the younger generation of Malays today are not as focused as those before.

"In the past, we were focused on supporting our poor families, that was the first, then came society and the country in the context of independence.

"The Malays then were poor and when the children went to English schools, they had the determination to look for a good job later and support their families," he said.

The current generation, he said, no longer thinks about getting a good job and even if they do, it is for themselves only.

"Independence has been achieved, the money is there, there is much time. Prosperity destroys everything and kills human motivation," he added

Fadzilah said Malay youths here are not given as much motivation compared to the youths in other countries such as Japan and America.

According to him, this is where teachers can play an important role.

Abim's Yusry also stressed on the importance of inspiration and idealism for Malay youths, whom he said have the potential to surpass the youths of other races.