KUALA LUMPUR: Various improvements, including separating junior and senior cadets as well as installing more CCTVs at the dorms are among the measures taken to curb bullying.
This follows two recent bullying cases at a Military Training Academy (ALK).
Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said have already taken measures to curb bullying, including separating the accommodations of first year cadets and senior cadets as well as conducting roll calls on them separately.
"We have also installed CCTVs at all the dorms at the academy and we are looking into increasing the number (of CCTVs) at all dorm blocks," he told a press conference after launching the ministry's Integrity Day celebration at Wisma Pertahanan on Tuesday (Nov 11).
Among those present were Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki and other Defence Ministry high-ranking officers.
To further prevent any form of bullying or assault among cadets, Khaled said the ministry would also increase the number of roll calls imposed on the cadets.
"Roll calls in the military involved checking the attendance of the cadets by calling out their names as well as performing inspections on them to ensure their discipline.
"It will be separate roll calls for the junior cadets and the seniors," he said.
Furthermore, stern action against any form of bullying is aimed at being a successful deterrent, Khaled said.
"We want all cadets to realise that such action will only lead to a dark path and will not benefit them," he said.
Khaled explained that in both the recent bullying cases, the cadets involved were enrolled in a military training course at the academy but at the same time, they studied at Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia (UPNM).
"UPNM not only accommodated the needs of the Defence Ministry by providing placements for the ALK cadets, they also have civilian students.
"Currently, UPNM has 4,200 students and about 957 of them are ALK cadets.
"As the bullying cases occurred at the academy's dorms (not UPNM's), the disciplinary probe is under the jurisdiction of the Defence Ministry," he said adding that all ALK cadets were sponsored by the ministry.
Recently, two bullying cases were reported involving ALK cadets studying at UPNM.
A report was lodged on Nov 8 at around 8.40pm stating that the victim, a first year student of the university, had been injured on Oct 21.
The victim aged 19 is reported to have suffered from fractured ribs and spine after he had been stepped on by a third year student. The victim is still being treated for the injuries.
On Nov 8, a cadet from the university claimed trial at the Sessions Court here for causing hurt to his junior using a steam iron.
Amirul Iskandar Norhanizan, 22, pleaded not guilty after the charge was read out to him by the interpreter before judge Egusra Ali.
