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 died after being assaulted by a senior student. Suhakam's children's commissioners stated that practices such as senior students punishing juniors, student-imposed physical punishment, student courts, fines or penalties, humiliation, degrading treatment, and other coercive measures must be audited. This review should be conducted as a preventative measure, without prejudging the current case.

The commissioners emphasized that students must never be given or assume the authority to punish other students. While student leaders can remind fellow students of rules, serve as positive role models, assist with monitoring, encourage compliance, and report suspected misconduct to appropriate authorities, they must not conduct investigations, determine guilt, devise or impose punishment, use physical force, threaten or intimidate, humiliate, or coerce.

Every student, including those accused of rule breaches, is entitled to safety, dignity, and fair treatment, in line with the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Furthermore, Suhakam urged the education ministry to review the terms of reference for student leadership in boarding schools to ensure clear definitions of their roles, which should include reminding, monitoring, and reporting, with clear prohibitions against administering disciplinary punishment. The ministry was also urged to issue a nationwide reminder to prefects, dormitory leaders, and other student leaders that they have no independent authority to impose or administer disciplinary punishment against other students.