A video of a Malaysian elementary schoolboy being bullied (read: slapped, beaten, punched, and choked) in a classroom has gone viral on social media.
The police has confirmed that the 2-minute-long video was recorded in a religious school in Putatan, Sabah and according to state police commissioner Datuk Abdul Rashid Harun, the victim’s parents have lodged a police report against the bully.
Apparently, the violent event happened because the victim allegedly teased the bully about his deceased father. It was revealed that the incident took place on 30th August and the 2 boys are currently sitting for their UPSR (Ujian Pencapaian Sekolah Rendah). The victim did not sustain any serious injury.
At the beginning of the video, the victim is seen lying on the floor, suggesting that the fight had already started even before the recording. When the victim got up from the floor, the bully violently attacked him to the ground while other students watched the fight at the side. Some even laughed at the situation.
We don’t know who was the first to upload the video on social media, but as at time of writing, the video that was posted by Putera Izman has gained over 1.1 million views.
Bullying in school is not uncommonly found in recent times. In March, 5 students forced their schoolmate to cut the tip of his tongue while a schoolgirl was dragged around by 2 female students in November 2015.
Upon watching the viral video, netizens went into a frenzy, with most questioning the presence of the teachers. One Facebook user known as Jojo furiously commented, “Where is the teacher? Why is the teacher NOT in the class? Discipline the absent teacher and the bully”.
Some netizens jumped to the bully’s defense, stating that there must have been a reason why he hit his classmate. As aforementioned, the bully became violent after the victim teased him about his late father.
The Star reported that the Education Ministry is investigating the bullying case. Deputy Minister Datuk P. Kamalanathan said, “The ministry already has very clear and concise SOPs in regards to bullying. Bullying of any kind is abhorred and the ministry will continue to keep the safety and well-being of students as a priority”.
All in all, bullying should never happen to anyone, no matter the reason. We’d like to remind our readers that bullying is a serious issue. If you’re a victim of school bullying, please seek help from teachers or adults.
Sources: Putera Izman, Astro Awani, Free Malaysia Today, The Star.
