Review informal boarding school discipline, Suhakam urges ministry

The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) has called for a review of informal disciplinary practices at boarding schools in Malaysia following a tragic incident where a Form 2 student lost his life after being assaulted by a senior student for allegedly breaking school rules. Suhakam's children's commissioners emphasized that students should never be given or assume the authority to punish their peers.

Practices such as senior students punishing juniors, student-imposed physical punishment, informal student courts, fines, humiliation, degrading treatment, and other coercive measures should be audited as a preventive measure. The commissioners stressed that student leaders, including prefects and dormitory leaders, should not have independent authority to impose or administer disciplinary punishment against other students.

They should remind fellow students of rules, serve as positive role models, assist with monitoring, encourage compliance, and report suspected misconduct to teachers, wardens, or appropriate school authorities. However, they must not conduct their own investigations, determine guilt, devise or impose punishments, use physical force, threaten or intimidate, humiliate, or coerce another student.

Every student, including those accused of rule violations, remains a child entitled to safety, dignity, and fair treatment, in accordance with the Convention on the Rights of the Child. The ministry was urged to review student leadership terms of reference to ensure clear definitions of their roles, with the prohibition of any disciplinary actions by students.