Holistic interventions needed on school security

RECENT school shootings in Thailand and the Philippines show how quickly unaddressed distress and systemic problems can turn schools into crisis zones.

While Malaysia’s Arms Act 1960 helps prevent widespread firearm violence, recent knife incidents here show that other weapons remain a serious threat. The stabbing of a student in a toilet at SMK Bandar Utama and a knife attack at a Banting school involving a female student, who is said to be autistic, highlight vulnerabilities requiring urgent action.