01/06/2025

NATIONAL 3 ON SUNDAY JUNE 1, 2025

‘Discipline should educate, not humiliate’

regulations for operating special load vehi cles. “Owners of vehicles that fail inspection at Puspakom have two options – either refer to APAD to correct the permit and obtain a new one based on the original load speci fied in the technical plan, or apply for a new technical plan based on the correct body code for the load being carried.” In addition, owners must adjust the side board height to the required 762mm, with no changes allowed to the existing dumper tipper body code, before presenting the vehicle for reinspection at Puspakom. “The improvements will enhance road safety, reduce the risk of accidents and ensure better compliance with existing regulations,” added Aedy Fadly. – Bernama Health promotion programme starts in all schools this month KOTA BHARU: The Health Ministry will implement the health promotion programme in learning institutions (HePiLI) in stages across all schools starting this month. Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said the programme would no longer be limited to schools with Kelab Doktor Muda (Young Doctors Club) only. “Personally, I feel this programme proves that a healthy lifestyle can be nurtured from a young age with a friendly, heartfelt and lasting impact, just like the Malay saying, melentur buluh biarlah dari rebungnya (it’s best to teach or shape someone’s character from a young age),” he said. He was speaking at the closing of the HePiLI Healthy and Prosperous Tour programme with Didi and Friends for the East Coast zone and the launch of HePiLI programme on Friday. Elaborating further, Dzulkefly said the HePiLI Tour Programme with Didi and Friends was an edutainment approach that provided health education through entertainment to children aged five to 12. “The popularity of Didi and Friends is leveraged to convey health messages in a friendly, easy-to-understand and memorable way. “Among the achievements of the programme are the production of seven animated health videos that have garnered over 28 million views on YouTube, with two of the most popular videos each exceeding 10 million views.” He said field activities had also received encouraging response with participation from over 135,000 children. “This proves that cartoons and songs are not merely entertainment, but also effective educational tools that help build awareness, spark interest and encourage action, in line with the princi ple that health education is not just about knowing, but doing. “To date, over 10,000 preschools, kin dergartens, primary and secondary schools have implemented the Tunas Doktor Muda (preschool young doctors) and Kelab Doktor Muda programmes, while more than 80 institutions of higher learning have implemented the healthy student programme. All the pro grammes use a peer guidance approach to foster a healthy lifestyle from the grassroots level,” he said. – Bernama

Experts stress the difference between

PETALING JAYA: Discipline must be bal anced with love, empathy and kindness when shaping children into responsible adults who uphold good character and integrity, say education experts. They say the approach to discipline has evolved in which constructive guidance is preferred over harsh punishment. National Union of the Teaching Profession (NUTP) secretary-general Fouzi Singon explained that discipline aims to form good character and values, especially in terms of obeying the rules set by the school, while helping pupils develop positive behaviour and mutual respect. He warned that the concept of anger compared with firmness must be distinguished because firmness means educating as opposed to anger which shows a negative aura and can lead to loss of control. Echoing the view, Persatuan Tadika Malaysia chairman Eveleen Ling stressed the importance of discipline from early childhood. She said discipline at home and in the classroom is essential to shaping well rounded, rational and responsible adults who embody resilience and integrity throughout their lives. “Scolding is never effective as it is a short-term control of misbehaviour. It makes the child feel resentful and belittled. It doesn’t teach them what went wrong and why,” she said. She pointed out that discipline should be carried out with love instead of satisfying the adult ego and pride. Ling added that the best way is to bring up the rule that was broken, harsh punishment and constructive guidance, urges empathy in classrooms and homes Ű BY T.C. KHOR newsdesk@thesundaily.com PUTRAJAYA: The Road Transport Department (RTD) has announced two key improvements to the vehicle inspection process at motor vehicle inspection centres, including those operated by Puspakom Sdn Bhd. RTD director-general Datuk Aedy Fadly Ramli said the move aims to enhance vehi cle safety standards while improving sys tem efficiency and service quality for users. “They involve inspections of tyre tread depth and heavy duty dumper or tipper vehicles,” he said in a statement. He said the tyre tread depth inspections are in line with current safety standards. “RTD requires all commercial vehicles, both goods and public service vehicles, to have a minimum tread depth of 1.6mm

Teachers must conduct themselves properly and know the rules and ethics of the teaching profession, say educators. – SYED AZAHAR SYED OSMAN/THESUN

Additionally, owners of heavy duty dum per or tipper lorries transporting special loads are now required to present the com mercial vehicle approval offer letter and relevant permits during inspections at Puspakom. This is to ensure that the vehicle’s body type and nature of the load conform to the approved specifications. “The move to tighten enforcement on such vehicles aligns with the implementa tion of a special body code for those trans porting specific loads such as fertiliser, coal, fly ash, gypsum, sawdust, corn, palm kernel and rice,” he said. He said the enforcement aims to prevent the misuse of vehicle specifications while ensuring road safety and compliance with Fouzi said stakeholders should not overreact to the point that the innocent may end up punished due to social media sentiments. Addressing the adage “spare the rod and spoil the child”, Fouzi said it is not only difficult to implement in schools but also in homes, as parents are exposed to consequences if they resort to excessive physical actions. Ling interpreted the rod as discipline and not a cane. “In this sense, we definitely won’t spare the rod.” She added that there is no one-size fits-all rule as no two children are alike. “Do not shame the child. Teachers should not use abusive or accusatory words when disciplining pupils. Always discipline the pupil away from peers and other adults. “Have eye contact when speaking to the child. Use kind words and love to win him or her over. Help them to realise and analyse their mistakes.” She also stressed on positive reinforcement and advised teachers to show pride when their pupils do well.

across the entire surface of the tyre that makes contact with the road.” He said previously RTD required Puspakom to ensure that at least 75% of the tyre surface met the minimum tread depth requirement during inspections. “With the new stipulation, commercial vehicles that fail to meet the requirement will not pass the vehicle inspection.” Aedy Fadly added that RTD, in collabora tion with Puspakom, has also stepped up enforcement to ensure heavy duty dumper or tipper lorries do not have side boards that exceed the approved specifications. “This is in line with the permit conditions set by the Land Public Transport Agency (APAD) and the approved Vehicle Technical Plan.” making sure the pupil knows what the consequences are, reasoning with them and ensuring they understand what is right and wrong. Meanwhile, Fouzi added that teachers need counselling to better control their emotions and adapt to today’s sociocultural changes. He said understanding a pupil’s background is important as this would reveal how he is being treated at home. Ling agreed, adding that counselling and bonding with parents are necessary. “The home and school must ‘speak the same language’.” Fouzi also urged teachers to conduct themselves properly and know the rules and ethics of the teaching profession. “They must understand and be aware of the current rules in force so that they are protected from committing misconduct that could lead to legal issues or violate the professional norms expected of a teacher.” He also commented that social media has become a platform that pressures society to comment and push authorities to act in ways deemed acceptable.

Vehicle inspection tightened to boost road safety: RTD