KUALA LUMPUR: Incidents involving the safety of students and teachers should no longer be treated as isolated cases, given their repeated occurrence in recent years, said Dr Kelvin Yii Lee Wuen (PH-Bandar Kuching).
He said the latest incident involving a student at an international school in Kuching had heightened concerns among parents and students about school safety.
Yii said the issue should not be viewed solely as a criminal matter, but also as an education and mental health concern requiring a comprehensive response, when debating the Supply Bill 2027 in the Dewan Rakyat today.
The teacher was reported to have been injured and taken to hospital.
Yii cautioned that school violence could potentially inspire copycat behaviour, particularly when students were exposed to reports of similar cases and negative influences on social media and through gaming.
"I do not want schools to become places where metal detectors have to be installed at their main entrances.
"That is not the image I want to see, but if it is necessary, we must ensure our children's safety is prioritised," he said.
Two other members of parliament (MPs) raised similar concerns over school safety, bullying and violence.
Hassan Saad (PAS-Baling) asked whether enough was being done to protect students from bullying, intimidation and violence.
"Parents send their children to school in the morning hoping they will return home safely.
"But what if their children live in fear every day because they are harassed, threatened or bullied by their own peers?" he said.
Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin (Bersatu-Masjid Tanah) said more teachers should be equipped with psychological knowledge to help identify students with behavioural problems.
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