Malaysian Police Chief Calls for Reinstatement of caning in Schools amid Rising Student Crime
SHAH ALAM, SELANGOR – A top Malaysian police official is advocating for the reintroduction of caning in schools, citing a decline in student discipline and a surge in violent incidents, including bullying-related crimes.Selangor state police chief Shazeli Kahar believes restoring a “fear factor” is crucial to address escalating issues within educational institutions.
Shazeli proposed a phased and “controlled” implementation of caning to prevent potential abuse by teachers, responding to a worrying increase in student-related crime across Selangor state. His comments follow a series of high-profile incidents this year, most notably the October 14 stabbing death of a 16-year-old student in Bandar Utama, sparking a national conversation about school safety.
Police data reveals over 120 primary and secondary school pupils were arrested between January and October for offenses ranging from extortion and causing injury to fighting and using inappropriate language. Some cases, Shazeli noted, even exhibited “elements of gangsterism.”
“What worries us most is when fights escalate into riots… If there are gang elements,it becomes even more concerning,” he told reporters Thursday.
Shazeli also attributed the rise in student crime to a weakening of disciplinary measures in schools, diminishing the deterrent power of teachers. The call for caning comes as Malaysia grapples with a growing number of reports detailing serious bullying, group assaults, and intimidation involving students nationwide.