14/10/2025

TUESDAY | OCT 14, 2025

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Expelled teens to sit for SPM at separate venue: Ministry

KUALA LUMPUR: Bullying could soon be met with a sharper legal bite, as the government mulls separate laws to deal with offenders among both children and adults, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said. She said the Cabinet would decide whether the proposed Anti Bullying Bill should be divided into two frameworks – one for minors under 18 and another for adults – to ensure suitable treatment for each group according to its context. “Many have asked whether we should have one law for all or separate laws for different age groups. “The Cabinet will have to decide on this, and I will present the pros and cons. “The technical committee will continue engagement sessions across the East Coast and in Sabah and Sarawak to refine the Bill,” she told reporters after moderating the forum, Nation Building and Future Resilience: Youth and Bullying, held in conjunction with the International Young Future Leaders Summit (iFuture) 2025 yesterday. Azalina said the Bill would also authorise the establishment of an anti-bullying tribunal, aimed at providing an alternative avenue for victims, particularly those dissatisfied with procedures carried out by the authorities, including schools. She said the proposal is being carefully studied as its implementation scope is extensive, involving more than 10,000 schools and 5.1 million students nationwide. On the proposed tribunal, Azalina said it would expedite investigation procedures as the body would not be bound by other criminal cases handled by the police. Her ministry is also studying a quasi-judicial mechanism, which is a specialised court-like platform operating more swiftly and confidentially through mediation or punitive measures. She said the aim is to provide a clearer legal definition of bullying to cover physical, verbal, emotional, social and cyber abuse. “This Bill will allow victims or their representatives to communicate directly with the tribunal if they are dissatisfied with the school’s decision. “Essentially, the tribunal serves to find resolutions. “However, in the current context, for individuals aged 18 and above, the matter will be viewed differently, whether it still constitutes a criminal offence or otherwise. “All these aspects will be deliberated by the Cabinet.” Azalina added that the government’s objective is to ensure the anti-bullying tribunal complements, rather than replaces, the existing systems within the Education, and Higher Education ministries, closing existing gaps and ensuring consistency in handling cases. She said the Bill would also extend protection to minors not enrolled in formal education and guaranteeing access to justice for all children under 18 regardless of their educational status. – Bernama Different laws for minors and adults: Azalina

supervision. He warned that the ministry would not hesitate to act against any party found negligent or failing to fulfil its responsibility to ensure student safety. “I will not compromise with negligence or breaches of procedure that put students and staff at risk.” Meanwhile, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said reaffirmed that all rape and sexual crime cases will continue to be investigated under the Penal Code, regardless of the offender’s age. She stressed that being underage is not an excuse to escape accountability for such offences, adding that all cases, including those involving school students or minors, will be investigated by the police. She explained that while the Education Ministry has its own procedures for handling sexual misconduct, criminal sexual offences fall entirely under the jurisdiction of criminal law. “Under criminal law, it’s a criminal offence. The investigation and punishment will be handled by the police. Let the police investigate so that appropriate action can be taken. Let’s be clear on this. Wrong is still wrong and evil is still evil,” she said, adding that offenders below 18 would face prosecution in the Juvenile Court if evidence warrants it. – Bernama

December, based on findings from several special committees currently conducting safety audits. The guidelines, he said, will include improved procedures for handling disciplinary cases and could make the installation of closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras compulsory in schools. “The minister will announce the improved guidelines, which are being refined to suit current needs and developments,” he said, adding that the ministry is studying allocations for CCTV installation based on the recommendations of the safety committee. Earlier, reports stated that a female student was allegedly gang-raped by several male students in a classroom at a school in Alor Gajah on Oct 2, with the act recorded on a mobile phone. The case came to light after the victim’s mother was alerted by a teacher about the circulation of the video before she lodged a police report. Following the incident, Mohd Azam instructed state education directors, district officers and school administrators to tighten safety supervision at all schools, including through unannounced spot checks. “With these inspections, we can immediately identify and address issues that require urgent attention,” he said, stressing that teachers must remain with students during class hours and manage other duties without compromising

PUTRAJAYA: The Education Ministry has made it clear that allowing the four sexual misconduct suspects from a school in Malacca to sit for their SPM is not a free pass from punishment. Education director-general Dr Mohd Azam Ahmad said the school’s disciplinary board had expelled all four suspects with immediate effect and they would not be allowed to sit for the exam at the school. “Instead, they will sit for the examination at a designated location, either at a detention centre or another venue separate from the school’s exam hall,” he said at a press conference yesterday. He said the case is being investigated by the police and the ministry will extend full cooperation to ensure justice is served. “The ministry is committed to ensuring that anyone found guilty must face the consequences.” Mohd Azam said the ministry would also issue new, comprehensive school safety guidelines in Parents, teachers share role in shaping student behaviour: PM o Education DG says permission does not absolve students from punishment as police investigation ongoing PUTRAJAYA: Teachers should not be solely blamed for cases of immoral behaviour among students, as the responsibility must also be shared by parents, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. He said weaknesses in the national education system inherited from the past had created flaws by focusing primarily on academic knowledge while neglecting the inculcation of principles, ethics and moral values among students. Anwar said such shortcomings have contributed to incidents of misconduct in schools, including recent cases of bullying and sexual assault. “I emphasise that the issue of bullying arises because our education emphasises knowledge, not values, morals or ethical principles. So there is a flaw,” he said during the monthly assembly with staff of the Prime Minister’s Department yesterday. Also present were Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar, Public Service Department director-general Datuk Seri Wan Ahmad Dahlan Abdul Aziz, and Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) Datuk Seri Dr Zaliha Mustafa. The prime minister expressed hope for stronger collaboration among educational institutions, parents and the community to address these weaknesses and nurture a generation that is not only knowledgeable but also morally upright. “Hopefully, we will have the determination to do what is best for our families, our society and our country,” he said. The Education Minsitry recently announced that it was implementing comprehensive reforms to strengthen student safety and discipline, including a proposal to draft an Anti-Bullying Act under a tribunal system currently being reviewed by the Legal Affairs Division. – Bernama

Anwar said some shortcomings in the education system have contributed to incidents of misconduct in schools, including recent cases of bullying and sexual assault. – ADAM AMIR HAMZAH/THESUN