2007 07: 15 expelled from MRSM for beating up students

The Star Online. News. Nation. Saturday July 14, 2007

JOHOR BARU: Fifteen Form Three students of Maktab Rendah Sains Mara (MRSM) in Negri Sembilan have been expelled for beating up 10 Form Two students.

Entrepreneurial and Co-operative Development Minister Datuk Seri Khaled Nordin said such disciplinary offences would not be tolerated.

“MRSM is an institution to develop students who are successful in their studies as well as in behaviour and character.

“We are not going to compromise on any student involved in group beatings,” he said.

On June 17, the 15 Form Three students beat up the Form Two students in MRSM Kuala Klawang, Negri Sembilan between 2am and 4am.

The expulsion letters were issued on Thursday after a full investigation into the matter was completed.

Khaled said such stern action was needed especially as there were cases where problematic students continued the same offences after being transferred.

“We even have reports where the victims themselves transferred because the issue was not addressed accordingly,” he told a press conference after the Umno Pasir Gudang division meeting on Saturday.

“We are currently investigating other similar incidents and we will not hesitate to take stern action against the culprits,” he added.

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Have Plan B for expelled students, says Lam Thye

The Star Online. News. Nation. Monday July 16, 2007

MALACCA: The Government should provide an alternative path for expelled students to stop them from becoming misfits in society, said Malaysian Crime Prevention Foundation (MCPF) vice-chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye.

Lee said yesterday while he understood the need for expulsion in certain cases, the MCPF was concerned as to where the affected students would go.

He suggested sending them to reform schools for rehabilitation.

Lee was commenting on the expulsion of 15 Maktab Rendah Sains Mara (MRSM) students for beating up 10 Form Two students.

Entrepreneurial and Co-operative Development Minister Datuk Seri Khaled Nordin said such offences would not be tolerated because “MRSM was an institution to develop students who are good in their studies, behaviour and character.”

Khaled said such stern action was needed as there were cases where problematic students continued with the same offences when transferred to other Mara colleges.

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Expelled students: Time to move on and focus on studies

NST Online. Letters. 19/7/07

By : W.M. RAMLI, Ulu Klang, Selangor

I REFER to the case of 15 Mara Junior Science College (MRSM) students in Kuala Kelawang, Negri Sembilan, who were expelled for bullying.

The Form Three students were reported to have been involved in a two-hour hazing session on 10 Form Two juniors on June 17 ("No way back for college bullies" — NST, July 17).

Bullying or hooliganism has become the bane in schools. I think the stern action taken was appropriate.

The expelled students have only themselves to blame for involvement in such acts.

What is left now is to look at what has happened in a positive way and learn from it.

It is not the end of the world. Get back into any ordinary school and devote your time to studies towards achieving good results in the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM). Learn from your mistakes.

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Expelled students: A warning to others to behave

NST Online. Letters. 19/7/07

By : MOHD FAIZAL ABDULLAH, Kuala Lumpur

I SUPPORT Entrepreneur and Co-operative Development Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin’s decision against allowing the 15 expelled Mara Junior Science College (MRSM) students to be reinstated and to continue their studies in the residential college ("No way back for college bullies" — NST, July 17).

The students, along with their parents, have apologised to their victims and appealed to be given another chance.

The minister’s refusal serves as a warning to other students that bullying and ragging will not be tolerated.

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Help, not expel, the problematic students

The Star Online. Opinion. Saturday July 21, 2007

ENTREPRENEURIAL and Cooperative Development Minister Datuk Seri Khaled Nordin has taken a firm stand not to entertain appeals from parents of 15 Maktab Rendah Sains Mara students in Kuala Klawang, Negeri Sembilan, who were expelled for beating up 10 other students.

According to the minister, the decision to expel them was taken after “serious consideration” and should serve as an “example and reminder” to other students to behave themselves and that bullying and ragging would not be tolerated.

His no-nonsense and uncompromising approach on matter’s concerning discipline in a residential college is understandable.

But the question is why has discipline deteriorated to the extent that the junior students have to run away for fear of being beaten?

What action has been taken by the school to deal with the problem of indiscipline? What has happened to the wardens and other personnel in charge of security and discipline?

No one will disagree that stern action has to be taken against school bullies in the interest of protecting other students.

However, what concerns people like me is the future of the 15 expelled.

The perception among the public is that expelling the “problematic” students is tantamount to transferring a serious problem from the college to the society as these students, without proper counselling or rehabilitation, could turn out to be potential gangsters or criminals.

In my opinion, the affected students should be placed in alternative schools where they can continue their studies and be counselled so that they can turn over a new leaf and continue their education, instead of just expelling them.

Statistics from the Royal Malaysian Police has shown that juvenile and student involvement in index crime has worsened.

For the first six months of this year, students’ involvement in index crime totalled 881 cases with 1,596 arrests as compared to 863 cases with 1,467 arrests for the same period last year.

We do not want to see the 15 expelled adding on to these statistics.

The police statistics are a grim reminder to us that juveniles and students can be potential criminals if matters concerning discipline in schools and colleges are not addressed effectively.

TAN SRI LEE LAM THYE,
Vice-Chairman
Malaysian Crime Prevention Foundation.

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EXPELLED MARA STUDENTS: Discipline must come first

NST Onlines. Letters. 23/7/07

By : TAN SRI LEE LAM THYE, Vice-chairman Malaysian Crime Prevention Foundation

THE Malaysian Crime Prevention Foundation is pleased that the 15 expelled Form Three Mara Junior Science College (MRSM) students from Kuala Klawang, Negri Sembilan, have been given the chance to study in a normal school, provided they are prepared to behave.

When the students were expelled for ragging their juniors, we were concerned they were not given an opportunity to turn over a new leaf.

When asked for comment by the media, I was looking at the problem from the point of view of student delinquency and their involvement in crime and other social issues.

The fact is that if the expelled students were not given a chance to continue their studies, then they would likely end up as misfits in our society and get involved in crime.

While we understand the need for MRSM Kuala Klawang to take stern action to remove the students concerned as a lesson to other students to behave, the MRSM management should act to bolster efforts and prevent future indiscipline among students in the residential college.

Recent statistics from the police show that juvenile and student involvement in crime has increased.

For the first six months of this year, there were 881 cases, with 1,596 arrests, of students involved in crime compared with 863 cases and 1,467 arrests for the same period last year.

The statistics are a grim reminder that juveniles and students can be potential criminals if matters concerning discipline in schools and colleges are not addressed effectively.

We certainly do not want to see students from MRSM or elsewhere ending up as part of police statistics.

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EXPELLED MARA STUDENTS: Bullies must go

NST Onlines. Letters. 23/7/07

By : R.M.A., Kota Samarahan, Sarawak

Even though the punishment is viewed by some people as harsh, they should focus their attention on what the students have done to their victims.

As a person who was once bullied in secondary school, I know that the bullies can inflict long-term psychological trauma on their victims.

The victims will not feel safe and they cannot enjoy a meaningful school experience like other students, as long as the bullies are around them.

Therefore, I laud the sound action and believe the punishment is fair.

The expelled students should be thankful for being given a second chance to finish studies at another school.