KUALA LUMPUR: Parents of bullied military cadets should take civil action against the institutions and staff involved to deter future bullying cases, says Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman.
The Muar MP said drastic actions should be taken against all parties involved in bullying cases, including wardens and officers.
“Sue them until they feel the financial consequences so that in future they won’t dare turn a blind eye,” he said while debating the defence ministry’s 2025 budget at the committee level on Monday (Dec 2)
Syed Saddiq said that as long as drastic action wasn't taken, the perpetrators would try to avoid taking full responsibility.
“As long as we don’t make them pay, they will wash their hands of the issue. One bully might be imprisoned, but the others will continue to act with impunity. Enough is enough," he said.
He also urged the government to conduct a major transformation at the top level following the incident.
"We cannot just take action on one or two bullies, but we need drastic action to ensure that no more lives are lost," he said.
A 25-year-old reserve officer training unit cadet died on Nov 13 following a training session at a Universiti Teknologi Mara campus.
This comes on the heels of five cadet officers being expelled from the National Defence University (UPNM) and ordered to pay compensation to the government for their actions.
One of the five cadet officers included 22-year-old Amirul Iskandar Ahmad Norhanizam, who has been charged with causing hurt against Muhammad Salman Mohd Saiful Surash early this month.
Amirul Iskandar on Nov 8 pleaded not guilty to pressing a heated steam iron on Salman's chest at Pertahanan Nasidasturi at Akademi Latihan Ketenteraan, UPNM in Sungai Besi at 11.45pm on Oct 22.
