KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 11 — The management of Mara Educational Institutions (Ipma) has been reminded not to hide cases of bullying among students.
Mara chairman Datuk Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki said action would be taken against Ipma principals who hide such cases, as directed by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
“There should never be an Ipma, including Mara Junior Science Colleges (MRSM), that hides cases of bullying. DPM (Zahid) has instructed me that if there is a case of bullying that is hidden, action will be taken against the principal involved,” he said in a Facebook post.
Asyraf also asserted that no compromise will be made with bullies at Ipma.
“I don’t care if they are the children of dignitaries, or whether they are the children of influential people. If they are found to be bullies, they have no place at Ipma. You touch, you go!” he said.
Meanwhile, National Student Consultative Council (MPPK) president Muhammad Amir Asyraf Mohd Sabri said his party condemns the bullying incident that occurred at Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia (UPNM) on October 21.
He said the incident involving a first-year student who suffered serious injuries to his rib and spine after being stepped on by a senior student was clearly against the humanitarian values and principles of peace instilled in educational institutions.
“This incident greatly tarnished the reputation of higher learning institutions as a place that aims to shape a young generation that is knowledgeable with integrity, and a high sense of identity.
“The culture of bullying among students is completely unacceptable as it not only threatens the physical safety of students, but also has a negative impact on the mental health and well-being of the campus community as a whole,” he said in a statement today.
He said the MPPK called on students across the country to completely reject the culture of bullying and violence in any form in addition to asking the university to improve preventive measures and ensure comprehensive protection for the safety of all students.
“The authorities are expected to take strict action against those proven to be involved in this incident, to send a clear message that bullying and violence will not be left untouched,” he said.
Yesterday, Kuala Lumpur police chief Datuk Rusdi Mohd Isa said the victim, a 19-year-old first-year UPNM student, suffered fractures to his rib and spine and is being treated in hospital. He was claimed to have been hurt by a third-year UPNM student at 10.45pm on October 21.
— Bernama
