{
  "id": 16126331,
  "title": "Gangsterism among M’sian Indians takes root in schools, says activist",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/22/gangsterism-among-msian-indians-takes-root-in-schools-says-activist",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-22T23:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today-freemalays",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2026/10/23/gangsterism-among-m-sian-indians-takes-root-in-school-says-activist"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In 2021, Indian gang members comprised 72% of all identified gang members in Malaysia, according to the then MIC vice-president C Sivarraajh (source). A new book by social activist Janakey Raman Manickam titled \"Malaysian Indians: Impact and Pain: Narration of an Unending Saga of a Marginalised Community\" reveals that gangsterism often begins in secondary school (source). Weak academically and marginalized Indian students are particularly susceptible to gang recruitment due to a lack of confidence and direction, seeking acceptance and recognition (source). Once recruited, these teenagers earn a living by committing crimes, with better positions in the gang awarded based on the number of crimes committed (source). They frequently move on to more serious offenses like robbery and drug trafficking (source). Janakey highlights the education system's focus on high achievers, inadvertently neglecting weaker students who are marginalized and labeled as \"problem makers\" (source). Despite vocational training opportunities, many Indian students remain unaware of the available options and leave secondary school without career guidance or improved financial stability for low-income families (source). Gangsterism has become a significant issue among Indian Malaysians, with 38 of the 49 secret societies and criminal syndicates listed by the government in 2013 being led by Indian youths (source). Janakey emphasizes the urgent need for serious planning and decisive action to combat this growing problem (source).",
  "summary": "In a new book, Janakey Raman Manickam says Indian students join gangs in search of acceptance and recognition.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}