/file/publisher-c1a3f893382d2b2f8a9aa22a654d9c97/2021/09/0f259c6be74885196574ef58d49e8b4a.jpg)
Mara to hire ex-military wardens at all MRSMs, to tackle psychological bullying next
Mara has confirmed that it will expand its experiment with hiring ex-military personnel to serve as wardens at Mara Junior Science Colleges (MRSM) to all its campuses nationwide starting Jan 1, 2027.
It is also taking a step towards addressing psychological bullying, and not just physical violence...
Mara has confirmed that it will expand its experiment with hiring ex-military personnel to serve as wardens at Mara Junior Science Colleges (MRSM) to all its campuses nationwide starting Jan 1, 2027.
It is also taking a step towards addressing psychological bullying, and not just physical violence.
This comes as Mara chairperson Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki steps up efforts to prove his tough stance against bullying.
Mara began experimenting with hiring ex-security forces as MRSM wardens in April last year.
Fast forward to April this year, and a nine-month study involving two campuses by Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) found positive results with the experiment - with reportedly no bullying incidents during that period.
Mara then hired ex-military wardens for eight MRSM campuses in June, as an initial step before expanding the staffing practice to all 58 campuses next January.
/file/publisher-c1a3f893382d2b2f8a9aa22a654d9c97/2021/01/98c703cffca5e2367241c8673c8f61d5.jpg "UMNO youth leader Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki 020121")
In a statement today, Asyraf (above) said that the UPM study found, among others, that the systematic presence of wardens minimised the space for bullying and vandalism to occur, and that students were also more disciplined, well-mannered, and punctual, while also feeling safe.
The Umno leader said he has since asked UPM to prepare a training module for these new wardens, while also carrying out a study to tackle psychological bullying more holistically.
Renewed scrutiny
This comes amid renewed scrutiny of school safety following the death of a 14-year-old Form Two student at a school hostel in Kuala Pilah, Negeri Sembilan last Friday.
Police have classified the case as murder, while a 16-year-old Form Four student has been remanded for six days to assist investigations.
Media reports have cited allegations that bullying may have been involved, but police have yet to publicly establish this.
/file/publisher-c1a3f893382d2b2f8a9aa22a654d9c97/2021/12/5af3dff5cc0e4a53718c91c6d2848504.jpg "death die generic child children hand murder 041221")
In response to the incident, Asyraf had called for an end to movies and dramas depicting bullying, citing fears they could lead to copycat behaviour.
He also proposed seven “radical” measures to tackle bullying in schools. However, Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek said many of the proposals were already in place.
/file/publisher-c1a3f893382d2b2f8a9aa22a654d9c97/2021/12/5af3dff5cc0e4a53718c91c6d2848504.jpg)
/file/publisher-c1a3f893382d2b2f8a9aa22a654d9c97/2026/07/b478b56538fcecb143cdb4f1c252ecb6.jpg)
/file/publisher-c1a3f893382d2b2f8a9aa22a654d9c97/2026/02/d1ac2fcc58a33cefc5d743d400f881af.jpg)
/file/publisher-c1a3f893382d2b2f8a9aa22a654d9c97/2026/05/e0ba6648325760db635f7fda314252f6.jpg)
A disciplined retired senior military officer with a clean record while in service , and good academic record should be able to manage the institution minus political interference.
Does YB Gerik, Asraf Dusuki, not see any problems with hiring former military wardens to stop bullying in Mara? As they say, "monkeys do what monkeys see". There are plenty of bullies in Umno, no? There is no need to mention who is the head honcho. He happens to be in the "A" list. Anyway, if Dusuki insists, better to subject them to psychological testing, detail background checks etc or Mara might end up with more of the same.
Hope it won't be a case of using a bigger bully to control a smaller bully. I suggest it will be more effective to do screening for student intake so that troubled and troublesome teens from dysfunctional families are treated in order to be admitted into such colleges.
Report this comment
Are you sure you want to delete this comment?
This action cannot be undone.