KUCHING: Schools must prioritise students’ safety and act proactively on bullying complaints before they escalate into violence, says Mas Gading MP Datuk Mordi Bimol.
Expressing serious concern over the alleged bullying incident involving a Form Two girl at a secondary school in Bau, Mordi said the case highlighted the need for swift intervention to prevent repeated harassment from developing into physical harm.
“I view seriously the media reports regarding the bullying case involving a Form Two female student in Bau, which is now being investigated by the police under Section 507B of the Penal Code,” he said in a statement posted on his Facebook page today.
The Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports said it was distressing to learn that the victim not only sustained physical injuries after allegedly being pushed into the metal frame of a whiteboard but had also reportedly endured repeated emotional and physical harassment, including having her hair pulled on previous occasions.
“I pray that she makes a full recovery, not only from her physical injuries but also from the psychological trauma she has experienced,” he said.
Referring to the police’s statement that complaints about the suspect’s alleged harassment had been lodged with the school about two weeks before the incident, Mordi said the matter raised serious concerns.
“The school management must explain why more effective preventive measures were not taken earlier to stop the suspect’s behaviour before it escalated into physical injury,” he said.
He stressed that no student should feel afraid to attend school or remain silent about misconduct for fear of retaliation.
“Schools should be the safest place for our children to learn, not a place where they feel threatened,” he said.
Mordi also thanked Bau police chief Supt Mohd Haide A Rahman and his team acted swiftly by opening an investigation once the police report was lodged.
“I have full confidence in the police to conduct a thorough and transparent investigation to ensure justice for the victim,” he said.
Calling for a collective effort to address bullying, Mordi urged parents in the Mas Gading constituency to remain vigilant and pay attention to changes in their children’s behaviour.
He said open communication between parents, teachers and the authorities was essential to curb bullying before it became a more serious social problem.
Mordi added that his parliamentary service centre would closely monitor the case and is ready to work with the State Education Department, District Education Office, schools and Parent-Teacher Associations (PTAs) to strengthen anti-bullying awareness programmes and emotional support initiatives across schools in the district.
“Bullying in any form, whether physical, verbal or emotional, has no place in Mas Gading. We must never compromise when it comes to the safety of our children,” he said.
