Disappointed that bullying is still a culture in schools

SHAH ALAM - Bullying should not be a common 'culture' in schools that is practiced in our educational institutions, said Zulkarnain Idros, 59.

Zulkarnain is the father of National Defence University of Malaysia (UPNM) Naval Cadet Officer Zulfarhan Osman who died after being abused by a group of university students six years ago.

He said he regretted that such cases were still rampant today and that bullying cases that involved injuries that cause death, such as the case that happened to his son, should be dealt with accordingly.

"Let them get the appropriate punishment, this is to teach them a lesson that the actions taken by the perpetrator (bullies) are wrong and that bullying should not happen again," he told Sinar.

Zulkarnain was responding to a recent case of a form three student who had been beaten up by a crowd at Kemensah Height Embun, Kemensah Motocross Taman Melawati, Kuala Lumpur last Monday.

He added that the latest case also proved that the practice of bullying if not curbed at the school level will spread to higher education institutes.

"This culture is still being followed, the government needs to study this and do something so that it can be curbed once and for all.

I have experienced how this case can actually bring down the dignity and identity of the victim ," he said.

Zulkarnain also hopes that the investigation can be carried out fairly to ensure that the victim gets defended fairly

"What happened to my son should be used as a lesson," he commented.