Malaysianโฃ Police Chief Calls for Reinstatement of caning in Schools amid Rising Student Crime
SHAHโ ALAM, โSELANGOR – A top Malaysian police official is advocating for the reintroduction of caning in schools, citing a decline โฃin student discipline โคand a surge in violent incidents, including bullying-related crimes.Selangor stateโค police chief โShazeli Kahar believesโ restoring a “fear factor” is crucial to address escalating issues within โeducational institutions.
Shazeli proposed a phased and “controlled” โฃimplementation of caning to prevent potential abuse by teachers, responding to a worryingโ increase in student-related crime across Selangor state. His comments follow a series of high-profile incidents this year, mostโข notably the October 14 stabbing death of a 16-year-old student in Bandar Utama, sparkingโ a national conversation about school safety.
Police data reveals over โข120โ primary and secondary school โฃpupils were arrested between January and October for offenses ranging โfrom extortion and causing injury to fighting and using inappropriate language. Some cases, Shazeli noted, even โคexhibitedโ “elements of gangsterism.”
“Whatโ worriesโ us most isโ when fights escalate into riotsโฆ If there are gangโ elements,it becomes even more concerning,” he told reporters Thursday.
Shazeli also attributed the โฃrise in student crime to a weakening of disciplinary measures inโ schools, diminishingโ the deterrent power of teachers. The call for caning comes as Malaysia grapples with a growing number ofโค reports detailing serious bullying, โคgroupโ assaults, and intimidation involving students nationwide.
