KUCHING, Oct 22 — Bandar Kuching MP Dr Kelvin Yii Lee Wuen has urged the public and the media to stop sharing videos of a school violence incident in Kuching, warning that such exposure can lead to a copycat effect.
The incident, which occurred yesterday at an international school, involved a 16-year-old student injuring a teacher.
“I appeal to everyone, including the media, to stop sharing videos, images, notes or details of this act,” Dr Yii said in a statement.
“Research on school violence overseas shows that widely publicised attacks are often followed by similar incidents.”
He noted that when an attack is livestreamed and shared thousands of times, the attacker gains the notoriety he may have been seeking.
“Every share, however well-meaning, puts more children in danger,” he added.
Dr Yii also pointed to a troubling rise in violent incidents involving students since the killing of a student in Bandar Utama in October 2025.
He stressed that while guards, fences, and bag checks have their place, they cannot address the negative material children are exposed to online.
“If we ignore this factor, we will keep responding to tragedies instead of preventing them,” he said.
The MP highlighted that he has consistently pushed for stronger online regulations in Parliament.
He noted that just two days before the Kuching incident, he asked the Communications Ministry if the government would extend social media age limits to online gaming platforms.
While he welcomed the ministry’s ongoing studies and public consultations on a new Gaming Sub-Code, he stressed that these efforts must be matched with urgency.
Citing Australia’s experience, Dr Yii said age limits alone are easily bypassed, pointing out that over eight in ten children under 16 there still use social media despite a ban.
“As we roll out our own measures, we must place a firm duty of care on platforms,” he said, urging them to design safer services and stop algorithms from amplifying harmful content.
Dr Yii also addressed the cruelty the young suspect faced online prior to the incident, noting that constant mockery from strangers can push youth toward harming themselves or others.
He emphasised that the teenager is a minor whose identity must be protected, adding that he should be dealt with through legal and rehabilitative processes rather than an online mob.
He called for stronger mental health support and early intervention in schools to recognise warning signs before it is too late.
Furthermore, Dr Yii called on the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to play a more proactive role by working with platforms to detect and block re-uploads of violent footage immediately, rather than waiting for complaints.
He suggested establishing a rapid-response protocol for school-related incidents to contain harmful material in the critical first hours.
Dr Yii also urged online news portals and social media page owners to prioritise responsibility over viewership.
“What is the point of higher viewership and ratings if the price is making our schools less safe?” he questioned.
The MP added that he has spoken to Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching and urged the Malaysian Media Council to establish clear guidelines on reporting such incidents.
“Protecting our children is a shared duty of government, platforms, schools, parents, the media and every one of us who scrolls, comments and shares,” he said.