7 students suspended over bullying case at Miri institute - Yeoh

Seven students involved in a bullying case against a student at the National Youth Skills Institute (IKBN) in Miri, Sarawak, have been suspended from their studies for a week starting yesterday, said Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh.

She said the decision was made after a meeting of the IKBN Student Disciplinary Board yesterday.

“The IKBN Miri Student Disciplinary Board Committee unanimously decided to impose several other disciplinary actions on the students involved, including the immediate suspension of their allowances and the requirement to perform charity work, report regularly to disciplinary officers, and refrain from ‘outing' for one month.

“The students involved and the victim must attend counselling sessions arranged by IKBN Miri,” she added at a press conference in Putrajaya today.

According to Yeoh, the firm step was taken as a clear message that the ministry will not compromise with any form of misconduct, including bullying that affects the safety of students and tarnishes the good name of the educational institution.

Earlier, a 13-second video recording went viral on social media showing a group of boys lifting an individual with his legs open and ramming him into a pole.

Following that, Yeoh said yesterday that her ministry had sent two top officials, including deputy secretary-general (strategic) Chan Hong Jin, to IKBN Miri to conduct an independent investigation, including questioning the students involved in the incident.

Preventing future incidents

To prevent similar incidents from recurring, the minister said the Student Affairs Unit and IKBN Miri teaching staff will enhance monitoring, arrange counselling sessions in collaboration with the Education Ministry and Health Ministry, in addition to implementing prevention programmes with the police.

She said the unit will hold briefings and talks on bullying that will be delivered by the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) quarterly, and the complaint box facility will be expanded to make it easier for students to channel complaints or suggestions.

“This decision was taken to ensure that it is a deterrent to such cases (of bullying) and there is no room for this kind of thing to happen again. We want to send a serious message because if we do not take action, there will be more complaints,” she said.

Asked if the Youth and Sports Ministry would share its experience in resolving the case, Yeoh said they are always open and ready to do so since bullying cases also occur in the workplace.

“I also shared the development of this case with the cabinet yesterday.

“As we know, the standard operating procedure (SOP) to comprehensively address bullying cases is being studied, and there are always discussions between several ministers and the KSN (Chief Secretary to the Government Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar),” she said.

- Bernama

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