Fadhlina: DG didn't mean bullying, sexual harassment cases covered up

PARLIAMENT | Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek has sought to soften her ministry’s top officer’s admission that bullying and sexual harassment cases in schools had long been swept under the rug.

When pressed in the Dewan Rakyat today by backbencher Howard Lee (Harapan-Ipoh Timor), Fadhlina moved to “clarify” Education Ministry director-general Azam Ahmad’s Oct 14 remark.

“When (Azam) said ‘swept under the carpet,’ he didn’t mean that cases were being covered up.

“(Instead), he was stressing that there have been incidents in schools that were known or reported to relevant parties - whether teachers, school administrators, counsellors, or the district or state education officers - but were seen as minor, not serious, or temporary in nature.”

She admitted, however, that due to the persistence of such a perception, previously implemented intervention measures may have been “light or not comprehensive”.

“That is what really worries us - if such cases are not given due attention and we cannot carry out full investigations and interventions, some of them may persist and lead to more serious consequences,” the Nibong Tebal MP added.

Previously, Azam said that within the past three months of his helming the ministry’s director-general office, he had collected “a lot of data” on sexual harassment and bullying cases being “swept under the carpet”.

His comments came after the public was shocked by news of a 14-year-old student fatally stabbing his 16-year-old schoolmate, with media reports stating that unrequited love was among the angles being investigated in the case.

Selangor police chief Shazeli Kahar has since confirmed that the suspect in the case did not express his romantic feelings toward the victim, noting that investigations are still ongoing and being carried out thoroughly.

Fadhlina noted today that the Education Ministry is now emphasising a "firmer and more systematic" approach based on clear procedures to ensure every incident in school is handled promptly, professionally, and without compromising the safety and well-being of students.

Emergency motion

Yesterday, Chong Zhemin (Harapan-Kampar) submitted an emergency motion to debate the fatal stabbing as well as Azam’s admission.

The DAP MP argued that Azam’s remark indicated “a culture of concealment as well as systemic failure in managing student discipline and safety.”

He also emphasised that the admission points to “serious weaknesses” in the complaint, monitoring, and follow-up mechanisms employed by schools and the Education Ministry when handling bullying, abuse, and sexual harassment cases.

Reporting by Qistina Nadia Dzulqarnain, Zarrah Morden, Haspaizi Zain

Set up public ombudsman system to probe violence in schools – group

Many sexual harassment, bullying cases 'swept under rug': Edu DG

Malacca teens in alleged gang rape expelled - DG

YOURSAY | Failing to protect our children