Ministry probes possible bullying incident at Miri youth institute

 

The Youth and Sports Ministry is investigating the apparent physical bullying of a student at the National Youth Skills Institute in Miri.

Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh said two officials, including deputy secretary-general (strategic) Chan Hong Jin, were sent this morning to interview students involved in the incident.

She also said the matter was discussed with the police and the parents of the student who was allegedly bullied.

“The discussions with the police and the student’s parents resulted in an agreement on three immediate improvement proposals: establishing an institute liaison officer from the Royal Malaysia Police (RMP), conducting anti-bullying talks for all students by the RMP every three months, and providing a complaint box inside the institute,” she said at a press conference in Putrajaya today.

Yeoh added that the institute’s student disciplinary board will convene immediately to determine the punishment for the perpetrators, subject to regulations and procedures.

Recently, a 13-second video went viral on social media showing a group of men lifting an individual in a spread-legged position, causing the person to hit a pole. The video sparked various public reactions and speculation about a possible bullying incident.

However, Miri district police chief Farhan Lee Abdullah said in a statement today that the student denied being bullied and classified the case as “no further action”.

Farhan said the student, along with their parents, went to the police station to explain that the incident was just a prank among friends to celebrate the student’s birthday on Sept 19, with no elements of coercion or abuse.

Although the police have concluded their investigation, Yeoh said the ministry wants to conduct its own independent investigation as an additional step to protect students from any unwanted incidents.

- Bernama