Yesterday in Parliament’s Budget 2027 debate session, I raised the deeply concerning incident at a private school in Kuching, where a student brought a sharp object to school and attacked a teacher and fellow students.
This has understandably caused great alarm. Parents, teachers, and students alike are asking a fair question: Are our schools safe?
In my speech, I called for clear and effective SOPs, along with proper training for schools on how to prevent and respond to cases like this. I fear we may see more such incidents, given the growing exposure of our young people to negative influences online and on social media.
There is also the real risk of a “contagion effect”, where graphic reporting and sharing of such incidents can embolden other troubled individuals to copy these violent acts.
Beyond SOPs, there must be proper support and mental health care for everyone involved:
1) For the victims, who need help to heal from the trauma they have been through
2) For the perpetrator, who needs proper psychotherapy to address the anger and underlying issues behind this act
I also urge everyone NOT to share videos or pictures of this incident. Minors are involved, and circulating such content only causes further harm to the victims, their families, and possibly feeds the very contagion we want to prevent.
I do not want to see a day where metal detectors stand at the entrances of our schools. But keeping our schools safe is a responsibility we all share, government, schools, parents, and the community.
Let’s work together to make sure every child can learn in a safe environment.