Bullying cases in schools dropped from 4,000 in 2014 to 3,000 last year - Kamalanathan

Bullying cases in schools across the country dropped to about 3,000 cases last year compared to 4,000 recorded in 2014 said Deputy Education Minister Datuk P. Kamalanathan.

He said the decline was the result of prevention efforts undertaken by many schools, parents and the Ministry of Education.

"The decline is a good sign in our efforts to combat the culture of bullying in schools, and if possible we want to completely eradicate bullying in schools.

However, the ministry is still not satisfied and considers it a serious matter," he told reporters after opening a new building at SJKT Ladang Kalumpang in Hulu Bernam, near here today.

Kamalanathan, who is also Hulu Selangor MP, said he felt disappointed and saddened by the recent bullying case that saw a student cutting his own tongue in Klang, Selangor.

READ: Tongue-snipping bully case: Victim is recovering, says father

"I'm disappointed, sad and very shocked because I've never heard of a bullying case that involved such a serious act, among school children," he said.

On Thursday a Standard Two pupil was said to have cut his own tongue when bullied by some students who were a year older to him at a school toilet in Klang.

Elaborating further, Kamalanthan said appropriate action would be taken against the students involved in the bullying case after police investigation reports are obtained.

"The students' disciplinary records should be reviewed, along with their background and environmental factors, in addition to the influence of peers, before action is taken," he said.