Bring back caning? Dewan Rakyat debate heats up as MPs push tougher discipline and anti‑bullying reforms

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 16 — During the concluding days of the policy-level debate on the Supply Bill 2027, education-related issues were the focal point at the Dewan Rakyat. Lim Guan Eng (PH-Bagan) proposed reinstating caning as a disciplinary measure in schools, along with mandatory psychological evaluations for teachers responsible for enforcing the punishment.

"Back in the 1970s, when caning was permitted, there were virtually no cases of murder or rape — or any negative psychological effects on students," he argued. Lim also suggested installing closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras in over ten thousand government schools and creating a comprehensive anti-bullying and anti-sexual harassment support system, which includes more security patrols and community engagement programs.

Ramkarpal Singh (PH-Bukit Gelugor) echoed Lim's sentiments, emphasizing the importance of school safety and proposed increased funding to train teachers in identifying early signs of emotional distress and potential violence among students. He urged each school to have a sufficient number of counsellors and structured psychological assessment programs for early intervention.

Several other MPs, such as Datuk Seri Ikmal Hisham Abdul Aziz (PN-Tanah Merah), William Leong Jee Keen (PH-Selayang), and Onn Abu Bakar (PH-Batu Pahat), highlighted the need to strengthen Form Six education as an academic pathway to university, rather than a last resort. Skills education expert Datuk Dr Richard Rapu (GPS-Betong) advocated for expanding Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) access, particularly in rural areas like Sarawak, ensuring that young people receive industry-aligned training opportunities.

Datuk Muslimin Yahaya (PN-Sungai Besar) supported TVET expansion to rural areas, addressing the problem of over 50,000 students ineligible for the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) certificate due to poor performance in Bahasa Melayu and History. He also called on the Ministry of Education to accelerate the development of educational infrastructure in rural Sarawak to provide safe and quality learning facilities, especially in remote areas.