MCA Youth calls upon the investigating authorities of the Armed Forces and Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia (UPNM) to allow the police to step in and initiate investigations into yet another chilling case of severe physical bullying allegedly at UPNM. The media has reported that a senior student is alleged to have pressed a hot steam iron unto the torso of a cadet student - photo evidence of which have been broadcasted on Star Video Online.

This is an assault case, and no longer can be confined within the safe walls of internal UPNM investigations.

It is regrettable that this case has actually befallen, more so, when it came just months after the Court of Appeal found six perpetrators among 19 originally charged, guilty for the murder of 20-year-old cadet student Zulfarhan Osman Zulkarnain who succumbed to injuries after being relentlessly tortured and scalded with a steam iron at the university's hostel.

The public had expected and desire to see, remedial measures undertaken to ensure that senior students at UPNM have the carte blanch to act with impunity.

Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara) chairman Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki has already issued a “You touch, you go! If you bully, you’re out!” warning on any incidents of bullying in any MRSM.

Taking a leaf from Dr Asyraf’s warning, UPNM needs to move beyond “You touch, you go.” In such a scenario, suspension or expulsion are insufficient, as the perpetrator(s) may still register and enrol at any other tertiary institution and continue their thuggery there.

The full books of the law must be thrown at the perpetrators. This needs to be a police case as a criminal offence has clearly occurred. A strong and loud message must be carried across that bullying at education institutions and hostels are chapters of the past which must be shut forever.

For decades, intakes into the hallowed halls of UPNM were deemed prestigious. These two hot iron assault incidents have marred UPNM’s once honoured image.

There is still time for UPNM to redeem itself from its sullied reputation, and return to its past glory as an institution which trained students to be ‘an officer, and a gentleman’, and not be perceived to churn out hardened sadists devoid of humanity.

Neow Choo Seong
MCA Youth Information Chief

1 November 2024

-MCA Comm-