Tongue-snipping bully case: Education Ministry leaves it to police to probe

The Ministry of Education is leaving it to police to investigate a bullying case involving a Year Two pupil of Sekolah Rendah Bukit Tinggi in Klang, Selangor yesterday.

Its minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid said the ministry would wait for further action by the police.

"The incident is now a police case, let the police investigate and we will obey any action by the police as this incident involved injury.

"The Selangor Education Department has asked the school to make a statement about what happened but to me, let the police investigate," said Mahdzir.

It was reported that in the incident, the victim, Muhammad Ali Shukran Alias, 8 had been forced to snip the tip of his tongue by five nine-year-old students.

Failing to do so, the students had threatened Muhammad Ali that they would beat him up. Out of fear of his own safety, the latter cut his tongue using a pair scissors himself.

The case is now under police probe after the victim's mother lodged a report.

Elaborating on bullying involving students, Mahdzir said it is not an increasing trend adding that the

He said, bullying happens involving a particular school where the environment contributes to the situation.

He added that it is difficult for the Ministry to monitor over five million students as the case can happen at urban and rural schools.

In addition, he said cases involving schools can be resolved at school level and the State Education Department without the need to refer to the Ministry.

He said the State Education Department has the power to determine the form of action in cases of misconduct among students.