KUALA LUMPUR: Frequent physical inspections on cadets will be conducted, and more trainers will be stationed at Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia’s (UPNM) Military Training Academy (ALK) to prevent abuse, such as those reported at the university recently.
Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said the Malaysian Armed Forces had beefed up personnel at the ALK from 31 to 48 recently.
The number of military personnel of various ranks, deployed to the academy as trainers, has also increased to 182 from the previous 124.
“With this, each trainer will only have to monitor 20 cadets each, reducing the burden and workload they face.
“Cadets will now also be subjected to periodic physical examinations to detect any signs of abuse,” he told Parliament during the Minister’s Question Time yesterday.
These new trainers, said Mohamed Khaled, will all be required to pass the necessary trainers’ course and be free of any prior disciplinary issues.
The service period for UPNM trainers had also been limited to four years to ensure peak performance.
He also said the cadets will be broken up into smaller groups from the current four battalions (up to 320 cadets) to eight companies (150 cadets each) to facilitate easier organisation and management.
“Each company will have a trained officer put on duty every day to specifically monitor the cadets more closely.
“Trainers on duty have also been instructed to patrol cadets’ quarters after 11.59pm every night,” he said.
Mohamed Khaled added that meetings between cadets and UPNM ALK top brass will be held to provide cadets with the space and environment to report any potential cases of abuse without fear of retaliation.
The ministry said it is also looking to add additional CCTV cameras around cadet blocks to detect any suspicious activities.
Mohamed Khaled was responding to a question from Royal Malaysian Navy commander (Rtd) Nordin Ahmad Ismail, the Lumut MP from Perikatan Nasional, who asked the ministry to outline its efforts and measures being implemented to end bullying at UPNM.
This follows the recent reports involving ALK cadets.
One suffered burns on his chest following an alleged assault by a senior cadet.
In the earlier case, senior cadet Amirul Iskandar Norhanizan, 22, is facing trial for allegedly voluntarily causing hurt to Muhammad Salman Mohd Saiful Surash, 20, by using a hot steam iron in a dormitory room at the ALK on Oct 22.Amiru Iskandar was charged at the Sessions Court in Kuala Lumpur on Nov 8.
Another incident involved a cadet who sustained fractures to his spine and ribs following an alleged assault by a senior cadet.
