Cops and ministry probe assault at school, but the teachers are also culpable

https://www.slideshare.net/montrez2010/sgp-powerpoint-3734944

UPDATE BELOW: Nine students arrested over viral 'Happy Birthday' assault video

BUKIT LANJAN: Cops and ministry probe assault at school, but the teachers are also culpable

Student indiscipline, bullying and gangsterism are no more shocking to Malaysians because it has been happening too often and, sadly, has thus become a norm.

What is shocking is the inept school administrator and administration in dealing with such problems.

“Are they really working or do they really care? Do they really know what is happening in their school or are they just plain irresponsible?” Gerakan Deputy Speaker Syed Abdul Razak asked.

He said, according to news reports, eight students, including one in a prefect uniform were filmed singing “Happy Birthday” to the victim before assaulting him relentlessly with a broom, kicks and punches.

“Apparently, according to news reports, the assault is traditionally practiced by students in the school to ‘celebrate’ a student’s birthday.

“Now, don’t insult my or Malaysians’ intelligence. If it is a tradition, it means the school administrator and administration had been condoning such behaviour?

“The school principal, discipline teacher and teachers don’t know such violence is being practiced? Either the school authorities are guilty of failing to discharge their duty responsibly or the news media reports are inaccurate. Which is which now?” he asked.

Coming to grips: Hickson is positive we can find non-violent solutions to bullying in schools.
May 6, 2014
MIND OVER MATTER
by R.AGE
By LIM MAY LEE
alltherage@thestar.com.my
ANTI-bullying activist, Actionwork Worldwide director Dr Andy Hickson has probably seen more of Malaysia than most Malaysians. “I lived in the jungles of Kelantan for two years in the 1970s,” he recalled fondly, calling it “one of the most amazing experiences of my life.” His mother, a social anthropologist, dancer and actor, relocated the family to Kelantan to study the women of the Temiar tribe, one of the 18 orang asli tribes in Malaysia. Deep in the jungle, where there were no roads, electricity or running water, she studied the women’s tribal songs and dances. That was where the young Hickson, then only 13 years old, learnt the ropes of researching. “I would interview the people in the community that my mother couldn’t,” explained the 53-year-old Briton. Besides learning to hunt, fish, use a blowpipe and become fluent in Temiar, Hickson learnt something important about the Temiar people: they never got violent. Ever. “I never once saw a parent hit a child, or a husband hit a wife. There was not a single act of physical violence in the two years I was there,” said Hickson emphatically. Instead, problems were sorted out verbally and communally. Later, when he started dealing with bullying issues, he drew on these experiences to develop non-violent ways to deal with aggression. “Using my background of theatre and film, I try to show that there are many ways to deal with violence, and without using more violence as a solution,” he said. According to Hickson, one of the most popular suggestions from parents in Britain is “If someone hits you, hit them back.” “I’ve even heard more extreme things, like ‘Put a brick in their face, they won’t bully you anymore after that,’” he said with a laugh that was halfway between horror and amusement. He pointed out that while violence might temporarily stop bullying, it leaves the bullied person just as violent as the aggressor … for more, go to http://rage.com.my/mind-over-matter/

Syed Razak, who is Gerakan’s nominee to contest N.37 Bukit Lanjan in the May 9 14th General Election (GE14), said the school principal and all teachers should be held responsible for the assault.

“They all should be slapped with a pay cut, or some should also be demoted and transferred, especially the school principal and discipline teacher,” he added.

Syed Razak said according to the news reports, the assault was believed to have occurred last February.

“Only now the Education Ministry is investigating the assault after a video of the incident had gone viral in the internet. Was there an attempt to conceal such a serious incident in the school?

“It is right for the police and ministry to conduct separate probes. The police is, obviously, treating the matter as a criminal offence.

“The ministry should now not hesitate to go after the principal and teachers for the shameful state of affairs in the school,” he added.

Syed Razak warned that failing to take serious action against the eight “student gangsters” would only encourage more of such “incidents” and a general deterioration of discipline in schools nationwide.

“The confidence of other students in school security and safety will also be jolted,” he added.

Here are the details of the incident as posted by The Star Online:

"Shah Alam police to investigate 'Happy Birthday' assault video

NATION
Sunday, 15 Apr 2018
9:02 PM MYT
by tarrence tan
 

PETALING JAYA: Police will launch a detailed investigation on the viral video clip which showed several secondary students allegedly beating up another student, allegedly to "celebrate" his birthday. 

Shah Alam district police chief ACP Baharudin Mat Taib said preliminary investigations found that the incident took place last February. 

“It is understood that the school in Shah Alam has identified all the students involved and a detailed investigation will be conducted.” 

According to ACP Baharudin, so far, no police report has been lodge over the matter. 

The video depicted eight students, including one in a prefect uniform, singing “Happy Birthday” to the victim before assaulting him relentlessly with a broom, kicks and punches. 

It is understood that the assault is traditionally practised by students in the school to "celebrate" a student’s birthday.


Ministry investigating viral video of student being bullied and beaten with broom

NATION
Sunday, 15 Apr 2018
8:45 PM MYT



 SHAH ALAM: The Education Ministry is investigating a viral video of a secondary school student here being bullied by his friends and assaulted with a broom, purportedly to "celebrate" his birthday.

Its Deputy Minister Datuk P. Kamalanathan said such an incident should not happen for whatever reason or purpose.

"I have been informed that the ministry is investigating the case,” he told reporters when met after opening the "Stand Together" carnival here Sunday (April 15).

Kamalanathan was commenting on the video which featured eight male students, including one in a prefect's uniform, assaulting another student with a broom.

It is learnt that such “bullying” is a tradition practised by students of the school to celebrate their friend's birthday. - Bernama

Nine students arrested over viral 'Happy Birthday' assault video

NATION
Tuesday, 17 Apr 2018
7:40 AM MYT
by m. kumar

PETALING JAYA: Nine secondary school students have been arrested in relation to the viral video which saw a secondary school student beaten up by his classmates to "celebrate" his birthday.

Selangor CID chief Senior Asst Comm Fadzil Ahmat said the nine 17-year-old boys were all from Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Bukit Jelutong.

He said that the nine were arrested before being released on police bail.

"They were picked up around 11.30am on Monday before being released on 4.45pm," he said when contacted on Monday (April 16).

This was following the 17-year-old victim lodging a police report around 9pm on Sunday (April 15) regarding the issue.

"We are investigating the case that allegedly occurred on February 8," he said.

The video depicted eight students, including one in a prefect's uniform, singing “Happy Birthday” to the victim before assaulting him with a broom, kicks and punches. 

It is understood that the assault is traditionally practised by students in the school to "celebrate" a student’s birthday."

N.37 LET BUKIT LANJAN SOAR WITH SYED ABDUL RAZAK ALSAGOFF