Did a recent brutal sexual assault on a teenage schoolgirl expose flaws in the education system where a misguided policy may be “unknowingly” making a mockery of natural justice?
With the uproar over alcoholic beverages reportedly served in a government function still raging, a new controversy has been triggered in the country; and just like the rest, this latest one also appeared to have left the nation divided and disillusioned!
For the record, it was reported last week that the Melaka police had remanded four Form Five students for six days to assist in investigations after they were accused of violently gang-raping a Form Three girl inside a classroom in Alor Gajah.
As expected, the incident shocked the nation and ignited renewed calls for firmer disciplinary measures in schools, with some also pushing for the return of the dreaded cane!
However, what drew the ire of the public was when education minister Fadlina Sidek announced that the (four) suspects would still be entitled to sit for the SPM examination in order to safeguard their “right to education” until they are proven guilty by the courts.
The right to education under whatever circumstances…?
She had further pointed out that the decision was made in consultation with the police and state education department; however, her statement drew a fierce backlash from the public who alleged that the first time minister was being insensitive towards the traumatised underaged victim - with some even demanding her resignation!
Incidentally, all four students implicated in the gang rape have since been expelled following a decision by the school’s disciplinary board; they had reportedly committed the offence on the 15-year-old victim while she was headed to her classroom to collect something she had left behind while two of the suspects were said to have watched and recorded the incident with their mobile phones.
Meanwhile, former Education Minister Dr. Maszlee Malik had cautioned that the last thing the public wanted to hear was that the students implicated in the crime will now be allowed to sit for the SPM examinations next month!
He stressed that the Ministry of Education (MoE) needs to be firmer and be prepared to initiate drastic measures while also demonstrating strong leadership; he then added that student safety should always be the priority and that it must not tolerate any sort of criminal behaviour within school premises especially given the numerous cases reported recently.
Thankfully, the latest incident may have reactivated conversation in this country on the often neglected issue of student mental health; but, as for the recent case there seems to be one disturbing question that has collectively riled up the public:
Should the suspects in the barbaric gang rape incident be allowed to sit for their SPM exams?
In truth, it's a no-brainer that a strong message must be sent to potential sex predators in schools that they will face the full force of the law, and that they cannot escape severe punishment for their acts; this is to ensure that they will not be emboldened to indulge in violent crimes!
In that context, is it not puzzling why the minister appears somewhat adamant that the alleged criminals's education should not be disrupted, purportedly to safeguard their future, when in the first place they had no qualms in committing such a vicious crime in their own school?
Do they really deserve any sympathy…?
In fact, isn't her contention that all students in the country have the “right to education” also somewhat flawed? Didn't it strike her that the victim also has the “right to be safe and protected” within a school environment?
Or perhaps her ministry had wrongly classified it as another “disciplinary” case and overlooked the gravity of the crime, especially the trauma and the stigma the helpless rape victim will be subjected to?
Won't barring the four from sitting for the exams be a “fitting punishment” for the savage crime commited?”
As for those who concur with the MoE's “innocent until found guilty” principle, what some parents and concerned members of the public may ask is: for this particular case, isn't there sufficient video evidence? Thus, in order to make the young suspects accountable for their act, isn't it only fair that they are made to face legal action first before being allowed to sit for the exam?
Meanwhile, more recently, another heartbreaking incident had rocked the nation after a Form Four female student was reportedly killed after she was allegedly stabbed by a Form Two male student at a school in Bandar Utama, Petaling Jaya!
Again, what some may want to know is: when it involves heinous crimes such as this, will the ministry's “innocent until proven guilty” policy still apply? And will the culprit be allowed to exercise his so-called “right to education?” In short, if that's the case, wouldn't it be tantamount to showing mercy to the criminal – but at the expense of justice to the victim?
Notes to Ponder: While there may be a renewed attention in the country now on the issue of mental health concerning the younger generation, will there be the “political will” to do more to shield them from the influence of inappropriate content in social media, and banning certain violent anime/manga and digital games – as is being effectively done in countries such as Australia and China? Or will more innocent young ones here have to “pay the price” before we finally wake up and do something…?
Main information source: Malay Mail, Sinar Daily, Vibes and Malay Mail.
JK Joseph (jtkingsworld@gmail.com) is a content creator under the Newswav Creator programme, where you get to express yourself, be a citizen journalist, and at the same time monetize your content & reach millions of users on Newswav. Log in to creator.newswav.com and become a Newswav Creator now!
The User Content (as defined on Newswav Terms of Use) above including the views expressed and media (pictures, videos, citations etc) were submitted & posted by the author. Newswav is solely an aggregation platform that hosts the User Content. If you have any questions about the content, copyright or other issues of the work, please contact creator@newswav.com.
