11/05/2026

MONDAY | MAY 11, 2026

11

LETTERS letters@thesundaily.com

A mother’s love beyond measure M OTHER’S Day is often a celebration of love, sacrifice and the unbreakable bond between a mother and her child. The move has sparked widespread concern and emotional reactions from the public, particularly regarding the welfare and long-term well-being of the elephants in captivity.

But in 2025, while families across Malaysia marked the occasion with joy, the nation witnessed a heartbreaking reminder that this bond exists in the wild too. In the early hours of May 11, 2025, a baby elephant calf was killed after being struck by a lorry along the Gerik-Jeli Highway. The sight of the grieving mother refusing to leave her calf’s side, desperately trying to push the lorry away, moved many Malaysians to tears and sparked widespread calls for stronger protection for wildlife. The tragedy became more than just an accident; it was a painful reflection of the challenges elephants faced on our roads that cuts through their natural habitats. In response, WWF-Malaysia, together with Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Ministry and Perhilitan, co-organised a roundtable discussion on safer roads for both humans and wildlife along the Gerik-Jeli Highway, bringing together key stakeholders to work towards long-term solutions to prevent such tragedies from happening again. As we celebrate Mother’s Day this year, many Malaysians are once again reminded of the deep emotional lives of elephants, animals known for their strong family ties and maternal instincts. In recent weeks, public attention has turned to the transfer of three elephants – Dara, Amoi and Kelat – from Taiping Zoo to Tennoji Zoo.

WWF-Malaysia believes that all wildlife should remain in their natural habitat and we do not support the removal of elephants from the wild for captive use. Efforts should instead focus on addressing the challenges elephants face in their natural environment, including habitat fragmentation, human-elephant conflict and poaching. When the idea of “orangutan diplomacy” to palm oil trading countries was brought up in 2024, WWF-Malaysia similarly stood firm that the best way to showcase Malaysia’s commitment to orangutan conservation is to conserve any remaining natural forests that are habitats for orangutans. However, WWF-Malaysia recognises that in certain circumstances, action to move elephants out of their natural habitats may be unavoidable. This includes cases involving rescued orphaned elephants that cannot be released back into the wild or situations of severe human– elephant conflict resulting in loss of human life or significant property damage. In such instances, these elephants are likely to remain in captivity in the foreseeable future and necessary measures must be taken to protect their well-being and provide for their long-term support and care. In the case of Dara, Amoi and Kelat being transferred to Tennoji

WWF-Malaysia remains committed to the protection and welfare of wildlife and believes that every species deserves care, respect and safeguarding. – COURTESY OF WWF-MALAYSIA

Zoo, we are not privy to the circumstances that led to this decision. WWF-Malaysia’s position is that we do not support the translocation of elephants unless there is sufficient evidence that such translocation is absolutely necessary to protect their well-being. We stand firm that the welfare and protection of the three elephants must not be compromised and must be in alignment with the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums Code of Ethics and Animal Welfare. This includes adequate space for the

WWF-Malaysia remains committed to the protection and welfare of wildlife and believes that every species deserves care, respect and safeguarding. As we reflect on these efforts, we are also reminded of the deep bond between mothers and their young in the wild, especially among elephants, where that connection is both powerful and enduring. In that spirit, we wish all mothers a meaningful and Happy Mother’s Day.

free movement of the elephants as well as appropriate enrichment and food. We are truly heartened by the strong public sentiment, care and concern for our elephants. In WWF-Malaysia, our work continues across Malaysia to protect elephants and other threatened species by, safeguarding and restoring habitats and wildlife corridors, reducing human-wildlife conflict, supporting enforcement and conservation policies and working with partners on science-based conservation efforts.

WWF-Malaysia

Not at fault, still penalised I WISH to highlight a major gap in Malaysia’s motor insurance framework that unfairly penalises car owners who are not at fault in accidents involving motorcycles or unlicensed drivers, for which I was an unfortunate victim. Currently, when a motorcycle causes damage, car owners cannot claim repairs from the motorcyclist’s insurer due to the low sum insured amount. This forces car owners to either pay out-of-pocket or claim under their own policy, resulting in the loss of no-claim discount (NCD). Even if the motorcyclist is clearly at fault, the financial burden falls on the car owner. Even more so if the motorcyclist suffers bodily injuries, the claim is directed to the car owner’s policy, too, resulting in the loss of NCD, again even though the motorcyclist was at fault. protections not extended to motorcycle-related accidents? Can measures be introduced to preserve NCD for faultless drivers and ensure victims are protected when the at fault party is unlicensed? Responsible motorists who pay premiums and comply with the law should not be left vulnerable due to systemic loopholes. I urge BNM to review these practices and consider regulatory reforms to ensure fairness and adequate consumer protection. It is sad enough that this has been allowed to go on for so long, with thousands of car owners ending up on the losing side for so many years, especially so with the number of motorcycles on the road now, including illegally on highways’ car lanes due to poor enforcement by the authorities. Apparently, all insurance

Social workers can curb bullying in schools BULLYING cases have been rampant in the country and this is deeply concerning. The Education Ministry has disclosed that in 2025 alone, 2,889 bullying cases were recorded nationwide – 740 in primary schools and 2,149 in secondary schools. This is where professional school social workers can make a difference. Countries such as the United States, United Kingdom, Australia and Singapore have long recognised the value of integrating social workers into their school systems. In these countries, school social workers conduct psychosocial by focusing on rehabilitation and prevention. Teachers today are already burdened with academic responsibilities, administrative duties and co-curricular demands. Expecting them to manage complex psychosocial cases without specialised training is unrealistic.

During the same period, 3,570 criminal misconduct cases were reported, including 457 in primary schools and a worrying 3,113 in secondary schools. Schools have responded with disciplinary actions such as verbal and written warnings, caning and expulsion, depending on the severity of the offence. While discipline is necessary to maintain order, the rising numbers suggest that punishment alone is not solving the problem. Behind every bullying incident or criminal act is often a deeper story. Many students who engage in aggressive or disruptive behaviour are struggling with emotional distress, family conflict, poverty, neglect, trauma or negative peer influence. Some are victims themselves before becoming perpetrators. Without addressing these root causes, we risk creating a cycle where punishment suppresses behaviour temporarily but fails to prevent recurrence.

A multidisciplinary model, where educators focus on teaching and social workers address social and emotional barriers, would create a more balanced and effective support system. The statistics released are not merely numbers; they represent children in distress and schools under strain. If we continue to rely solely on punitive measures, we may control the symptoms but not cure the underlying issues. Introducing professional social workers into Malaysian schools is not an added luxury; it is a strategic investment in safer learning environments and healthier future citizens. The real question is no longer whether we can afford to implement school social work but whether we can afford to delay it any longer. Thanaselan Punichelvana Kuala Lumpur

assessments, provide counselling, manage crisis intervention and work closely with families and community agencies. Their presence allows early identification of at-risk students before behavioural issues escalate into serious misconduct. Malaysia already has trained social workers under the Women, Family and Community Development Malaysia Ministry. However, systematic placement of professional social workers within schools remains limited. Embedding them, particularly in high-risk secondary schools, can strengthen early intervention, structured case management and emotional support systems. Importantly, social workers can introduce restorative practices mediation between students, behavioural contracts, anger management programmes and parental engagement strategies. These approaches do not replace discipline but they can complement it

Similarly, when accidents involve unlicensed drivers, insurers often reject claims entirely, leaving innocent parties without recourse despite the vehicle being driven by the unlicensed driver having a valid insurance. The innocent party then has to bear the repair costs or claim from their own insurance and lose their NCD. I seek Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM)’s clarification and intervention on these issues. Why are OD-KFK (own damage-knock-for-knock)

companies in Malaysia practise the same approach, leaving affected parties with little recourse but to take the matter to court – a route that is unlikely to succeed due to policy clauses. Anyhow, the legal costs and lengthy court process alone deter affected owners, with no guarantee the other party can pay even if they win. Concerned Malaysian