By LESTER KONG

KUALA LUMPUR: There should be no compromise on gangsterism and crime committed in schools, said Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

"A crime is a crime. It should be punished accordingly," he said, adding that crime and gangsterism in schools or against students had to be solved by all parties.

Muhyiddin, who is also Edu?cation Minister, said the problem of gangsterism in school had to be looked at "holistically" to see whe?ther the causes lie with the schools' environment or outside.

"It should not just be a police problem but also involve the schools and parents.

"All must play their roles so that gangsterism does not become more prevalent in our society," he told a press conference after giving appreciation prizes to 188 members of the Malaysian contingent to the ASEAN School Games 2010.

He urged the police to increase patrols around areas with schools to prevent "suspicious" persons from influencing or harming students.

However, he stressed that for the safety of all, students proven to be involved in crime or gangsterism had to be punished appropriately.

Muhyiddin also urged parents and school authorities to ensure that their children's school environment did not encourage gangster-like behaviour or cause them to be injured.

"Ensure that the school's surroundings are safe to prevent any incidents of students getting injured or becoming involved in other problems," he advised.

On another note, Muhyiddin said that a comprehensive plan to boost incentives given to school athletes was being developed by the ministry's Sports, Arts and Co-curriculum Division.

He said there was an incentive programme for school athletes currently, but more was needed to encourage students to make sports a bigger part of their lives.

"This is so that we can offer guidance and support to students so that they do not regard sports as something wasteful or without benefit and even a disturbance to their studies," Muhyiddin said.

He added that the ministry would not emphasise on giving monetary incentives but award credits for curriculum and co-curriculum activities to those who take part in international sporting events.