SINGAPORE: In the wake of alleged abuse and bullying cases at military university Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia ( UPNM), its new president, Malaysian king Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar, has called for an end to the “inhumane” tradition to restore the university’s good name.
At the institution’s convocation ceremony on Tuesday ( Dec. 3 ), he said,” He does not want to be associated with the institution if the trend persists.”  ,
” If the harassment and mistreatment continues, don’t connect my name with the school anymore”, said the prince.  ,
Sultan Ibrahim expressed lament over the bullying allegations against student officials at the military training facility at UPNM. A military student, Zulfarhan Osman Zulkarnain, died in a situation from seven years ago, and witnesses have sustained critical injuries. A Malaysian court handed down a death sentence to six previous UPNM pupils in July for his death.  ,
In recent months, two more cases have surfaced.  ,
Mohd Adil Mat Awang Ghani, a 22-year-old student officer, was charged with willfully injuring his young, 19, in October by stomping on his belly with burst boots. According to the police, the victim sustained fractures to his breast and back.  ,
A 22-year-old UPNM cadet officer is accused of injuring his young, 20-year-old Muhammad Salman Mohd Saiful Surash, in October by pressing a heated gas iron on his neck.  ,
Amirul entered a not-guilty plea in the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court on November 8.  ,
UNIVERSITY’S DUAL OPERATING SYSTEM MAY BE REVIEWED
The prince, who underwent military education in his youth, described the taunting society at UPNM as cruel, reported media outlet Malay Mail.  ,
In his conversation, which was also posted on social media, he said,” Training a military official does require solid physical and mental training but not the point of abuse and causing injury or death.  ,  ,
The Ministry of Defence and the Malaysian Armed Forces are in charge of the military education club in UPNM.  ,
The 66-year-old Johor king, Bernama, found it “even more sobering” that bullying incidents continue to occur every year” as though no serious action has been taken by any group.” This is in spite of abuse circumstances that have already been settled in court, he said.  ,
Zambry Abdul Kadir, the minister of higher learning, added that the university’s two operating system may become reviewed to stop future bullying situations.  ,
According to the Star,” With regards to the bullying instances at UPNM, it may be related to the existing method, which involves individuals attending lectures and lessons from 7am to 5pm, and therefore enrolling in the military club under the military forces,” he said without going into specifics.  ,
Dr. Zambry addressed questions posed by a political debate about how his ministry would combat the increase in bullying at the martial university.  ,
Defense Minister Khaled Nordin announced last week that five UPNM student officers who were involved in three current bullying incidents have been kicked out of the university and the Malaysian Armed Forces.  ,
According to the secretary, the expelled officials, including Amirul, have also been given a pay-out order to compensate the Malaysian government based on the total costs associated with their studies. The choice aimed to assist as a barrier to all parties, he added.
In a stark speech on November 1st, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim declared that his country would never tolerate a tradition of bullying in educational institutions.
Also addressing pupils of the military academy, Mr Anwar urged training leaders to take accountability and put an end to the plague, which he said , has become widespread in the country.