Suhakam gesa KPM semak ‘amalan disiplin tidak rasmi’ di sekolah berasrama

The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) has urged the Ministry of Education (KPM) to investigate the practice of "unofficial discipline" in boarding schools following the death of a 14-year-old student who was allegedly beaten by a senior student for violating school rules. Suhakam warns that such practices, including peer-to-peer punishment, corporal punishment, "student court," fines, shameless behavior, and other forms of coercion, need to be examined to prevent future incidents without jumping to conclusions in the ongoing investigation.

The Polaris Nine, Alzafny Ahmad, stated that initial investigations found the four-year-old victim, Idlan Fareeq Shahril, accused a classmate of "wrongdoing" before he was found unconscious at a sports boarding school in Kuala Pilah. He was then taken to the Tuanku Ampuan Najihah Hospital before being declared dead. The police are investigating the incident as murder.

Suhakam emphasizes that students should never be given or take power to judge their peers. School leaders can remind classmates of school rules, set a good example, help monitor compliance, encourage adherence, and report misconduct to teachers, wardens, or school authorities. However, they cannot conduct their own investigations, determine a student's guilt, set or administer punishment themselves, use physical force, intimidate or threaten other students.

They also cannot shame or force other students into disciplinary action or impose discipline based on their own desires.

Suhakam stresses that no student, including those accused of violating school rules, remains a child with the right to protection, dignity, and fair treatment, in line with the principles of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. The commission also urges KPM to review the terms of leadership in all boarding schools to ensure their roles are clearly defined: to remind, monitor, and report misconduct, without any power to impose disciplinary action.

KPM is also urged to issue clear directives nationwide that wardens, dormitory heads, and student leaders have no authority to determine or enforce any disciplinary actions against other students.