[UPDATED] 10 students involved in MRSM bullying case expelled, says Mara DG

KUALA LUMPUR – The 10 students involved in a bullying case that took place at Mara Science Junior College (MRSM), Kuala Kangsar, have been expelled by the school’s disciplinary committee.

In a statement today, Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara) director-general Datuk Azhar Abdul Manaf said the committee has carried out detailed investigations, and decided to expel the students – which takes effect today.

Azhar said the students’ parents have been informed of the committee’s decision, and that it was done based on guidelines in the MRSM Student Disciplinary Management Guide.

“We hope this decision will not only be a lesson to them, but to other students as well.

“Of course, Mara wants to produce model citizens who are not only excellent in terms of knowledge, but also have good personalities and personal behaviours and are accepted by the community,” he said.

Stressing that Mara is committed to dealing with bullying cases, he said, “We take this very seriously and the punishment shows that we are firm, and that we do not compromise on any bullying misconduct among students under educational institutions in Mara or its sponsorship.

“We have tightened standard operating procedures through the enforcement of school rules, as well as continuously monitoring student activities – including the learning process in classes – to prevent such incidents from recurring.”

In a viral video clip, the boarding school pupils were seen punching and kicking another student, prompting public condemnation.

Numerous video clips lasting between 13 seconds and 30 seconds were uploaded on social media showing a boy – who appeared to be a victim of bullying – being ordered to stand up, before he was kicked in the back and punched several times in the stomach by other youths.

In a Sinar Harian report, Perak police chief Datuk Mior Faridalathrash Wahid had said the bullying incident was a result of the 13-year-old victim reprimanding one of his bullies for watching pornographic videos on his mobile phone.

“The victim said he would complain to the teacher or warden, if the said suspect did not stop watching pornographic videos.

“Based on investigations, this was one of the reasons why they punched and bullied the victim,” Mior noted.

Initially, Mior said, the fight had only involved the victim and one of the suspects. However, a Form Three student then asked his peers to assault the victim.

He said a total of 10 students – who had been involved in the incident – were arrested and questioned, while eight witnesses were called to testify.

“Police have confiscated 11 mobile phones to be sent to forensics for analysis.”

He added that police had received two reports from the school principal and the victim’s father regarding the incident.

“The case will be referred to the deputy public prosecutor for prosecution once the investigation is completed.

“We were informed that the victim, who received further treatment at a hospital in Selangor, is in a stable condition without any serious injuries,” he said. – The Vibes, December 14, 2021