Guan Eng moots caning, CCTVs to tackle discipline, safety in schools

Kuala Lumpur: During the policy-level debate on the Supply Bill 2027, MP Lim Guan Eng suggested reinstating corporal punishment, in the form of caning, in schools to tackle student discipline and bullying issues. He proposed regular psychological evaluations for teachers who would administer the punishment. Lim also recommended installing closed-circuit television cameras in over 10,000 government schools nationwide and setting up a comprehensive anti-bullying and anti-sexual harassment support system, including additional security patrols and engagement programs with students and parents.

Another PH-Bagan MP, Ramkarpal Singh, agreed on the importance of safety and bullying prevention in schools, advocating for special funding to train teachers to detect early signs of emotional distress and potential violence among students. He also called for each school to have sufficient counsellors and structured psychological assessment programs for early intervention.

Other MPs, including Ikmal Hisham Abdul Aziz (PN-Tanah Merah), William Leong (PH-Selayang), and Onn Abu Bakar (PH-Batu Pahat), emphasized the need to strengthen Form Six education, making it an academic pathway to university, rather than a last resort. Skills education was also discussed, with Richard Rapu (GPS-Betong) urging the government to expand technical and vocational education and training (TVET) opportunities for rural youth, especially in Sarawak.

Muslimin Yahaya (PN-Sungai Besar) agreed that TVET should be extended to rural areas to give more than 50,000 students an opportunity to obtain better jobs. Ali Biju (PN-Saratok) urged the education ministry to speed up the development of educational infrastructure in rural Sarawak to provide safe and quality learning facilities, particularly in remote areas.