SHAH ALAM: The Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM) have implemented several improvements to address bullying issues at the Royal Military College (RMC), including increasing the number of closed-circuit television cameras (CCTV) from 12 to 64 units in the accommodation blocks.
Deputy Defence Minister Adly Zahari stated that this measure aims to monitor and detect suspicious activities among students, in a Sinar Harian report.
He added that trainers on duty have been instructed to conduct regular and irregular patrols in the accommodation blocks after 11:30PM every day, with checks occurring every two hours.
"Meetings between students, administrators, and trainers are also held to gather early information on misconduct. This is implemented to address the reluctance of ‘Putera’ (students) to report misconduct.
"Additionally, the enforcement of the Permanent Orders for Putera (PTP) prohibits disciplinary violations, and since 2020, accommodation blocks for Form Four and Form Five students have been separated to reduce the risk of unwanted incidents.
"The Defence Ministry and ATM will not compromise on any form of disciplinary offence, including bullying.
"Investigations will be conducted, and strict action will be taken against any individuals involved," he said.
Adly made these remarks in response to a question from Muar MP, Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman, in the Dewan Rakyat about strategies to stop the systemic and worsening bullying incidents at RMC.
In January, Sinar Harian exclusively reported incidents of bullying and excessive punishment at RMC, revealed by several parents and former students of the military-based educational institution.
Complainants alleged that they were forced to perform ‘commando rest’ punishments with their faces submerged in buckets of water, claiming it was not intended as a joke but rather with harmful intent.
Moreover, a mother of one bullying victim disclosed that her son was sexually assaulted by a senior, with the case being heard and the perpetrator punished.
However, the woman claimed that her son was then forced to report to seniors for 60 days, moving from room to room for having reported the incident, and was even forced to mop the floor with his tongue.
Others alleged that bullying at the school was influenced by the existence of several internal organisations, such as Enam Jahanam, Enam Azazil, and Tujuh Malaikat Maut, which purportedly legitimised violent or theft activities.
Despite the controversies earlier this year, Adly noted that public confidence in the institution remains high, as evidenced by the receipt of 3,990 applications compared to 2,200 last year, even though only 260 students were accepted.
"Our duty at RMC and ATM is to ensure that these students maintain high levels of discipline, as they represent the future of the military system and the civil service, not to mention national leadership," he concluded.
