PUTRAJAYA, Sept 23 (Bernama) – The Ministry of Youth and Sports (KBS) is conducting an independent investigation into an issue at the National Youth Skills Institute (IKBN) Miri, where a student recently appeared to be a victim of being bullied physically.
Youth and Sports Minister, Hannah Yeoh, said the ministry has sent two top officials, including Deputy Secretary-General (Strategic) Chan Hong Jin, to IKBN Miri early this morning to carry out an independent investigation and to interview the students involved in the incident.
Hannah said that the officials have also discussed the matter with the police and the parents of the student who was allegedly bullied and have agreed on three immediate improvement proposals.
“The discussions with the police and the student's parents resulted in an agreement on three immediate improvement proposals: establishing an institute liaison officer from the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM), conducting anti-bullying talks for all students by the PDRM every three months, and providing a complaint box inside the institute,” she said at a press conference here today.
Hannah added that the IKBN Miri student disciplinary board will convene immediately to determine the punishment for the perpetrators, subject to the regulations and procedures currently in force.
Recently, a 13-second video went viral on social media showing a group of men lifting an individual in a spread-legged position, causing them to hit a pole. The video sparked various public reactions and speculation about a possible bullying incident.
However, Miri District Police Chief ACP Mohd Farhan Lee Abdullah said in a statement today that the student denied being bullied and classified the case as 'no further action'.
Mohd Farhan said the student, along with their parents, went to the police station to explain that the incident was just a prank among friends to celebrate the student's birthday on Sept 19, with no elements of coercion or abuse.
Although the police have concluded their investigation, Hannah said the ministry wants to conduct its own independent investigation as an additional step to protect students from any unwanted incidents.
-- BERNAMA
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