Calls for guidelines to combat bullying in universities

Former minister Khairy Jamaluddin says Malaysia’s higher education ministry should establish guidelines to tackle bullying in higher learning institutions, writes Fuad Nizam for New Straits Times.

Commenting on the recent bullying of a Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia (UPNM) cadet, Khairy said such behaviour cannot be tolerated. “At the school level, the education ministry has guidelines for managing bullying and misconduct in institutions under its purview,” the former youth and sports minister said on his Keluar Sekejap podcast. “We’re not sure if anything similar exists at the university level, but based on our research, there doesn’t seem to be anything comprehensive at the higher education ministry level.” He said he hoped Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir would implement measures to combat bullying in universities.

Last Wednesday, the armed forces confirmed it had launched an investigation into the alleged bullying of a cadet by a senior who pressed a hot iron against the victim’s chest. At the time, the victim was ironing the alleged bully’s clothes after being told to do so. This is the second case involving the same method of abuse at UPNM in seven years.
Full report on the New Straits Times site