Ramasamy wants setting up of RCI to address bullying in schools, not empty rhetoric

THE tragic death of Zarina Qairina Mahathir – a 13-year-old religious boarding school pupil in Sabah – due to relentless bullying in the form of insults and humiliation has once again brought into focus the dismal state of schools in the country.

Zara’s case is just the tip of the iceberg. It highlights the urgent need for the Education Ministry (MOE) to give full and systematic attention to the problem of bullying – a phenomenon too often swept under the rug.

Beyond Zara, there have been numerous cases in recent years. While many did not receive the same publicity, they are a stark reminder that bullying is a far deeper and more widespread problem than the authorities are willing to admit.

Unfortunately, Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek has failed to rise to the occasion. As a political appointee, she lacks the leadership, vision and political will to implement meaningful reforms.

Her occasional media conferences are nothing more than public relations exercises. Calls have already been made for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to replace her yet he seems adamant about retaining her – possibly due to his long-standing ties with her family.

This raises serious questions about priorities. Should personal connections outweigh the welfare of the nation’s children?

‘Fadhlina must step down first’

The education system is ossified by bureaucracy. Despite commanding the largest share of the national budget, the ministry remains sluggish and directionless.

Without bold leadership at the top, reforms will remain elusive. Anwar, who once championed reforms, now appears content with empty rhetoric rather than substantive action.

Bullying, especially when it leads to injuries, suicides and even deaths, is not an isolated schoolyard issue – it reflects a deeper malaise within the education system itself.

Parents, especially in rural areas, view education as a pathway out of poverty. They entrust schools with the future of their children, not expecting them to become breeding grounds for bullying and intimidation.

 

The tragic death of Zara will continue to haunt the nation if the Madani government fails to confront bullying head-on. Punishing perpetrators alone is insufficient. What is needed is a thorough and independent examination of the school system.

I strongly urge the government to set up a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) to investigate what truly ails our education system and why schools have become unsafe for so many.

But before such an RCI can begin, accountability must be shown. Fadlina should step down for her failure to manage the crisis in our schools.

The question now is clear: will Anwar place his personal connections above the urgent need to protect students or will he act decisively in the interest of the nation’s children? 

Former DAP stalwart and Penang chief minister II Prof Ramasamy Palanisamy is chairman of the United Rights of Malaysian Party (Urimai) interim council.

The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of  MMKtT.

- Focus Malaysia.