School safety measures still insufficient, says PM Anwar
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim acknowledged that current school safety measures are insufficient following a series of bullying incidents and student deaths. He emphasized the need for stronger family units and improved school monitoring, while facing criticism from opposition MPs regarding the government's urgency.
Why it matters
The issue highlights the intersection of national education policy, student safety, and political accountability in Malaysia.
KUALA LUMPUR: Steps to keep students safe in schools are not enough yet, says Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, days after a Form Four student was found dead at her school in Johor.
The Prime Minister said 5,681 bullying cases were reported in schools from January to August this year, and the real figure was certainly higher.
Anwar said the Education Ministry had put in place measures ranging from hostel monitoring and safety audits to counselling and mental health support.
"Is it enough? Not yet," he said during Prime Minister's Question Time in the Dewan Rakyat on Tuesday (Oct 6).
He cited the case of Irene Sofiya Mohd Khairool Faisal, 16, as the latest, following that of Zara Qairina Mahathir in Sabah last year and others in Kelantan, Selangor and Negri Sembilan.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in