Asyraf Wajdi warns against normalising bullying as harmless prank in boarding schools, calls on students to break the cycle
The Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara) chairman also said that normalisation of bullying must end, and it should no longer be dismissed as harmless pranks in boarding schools.
'Firm and uncompromising punishment must be enforced regardless of who is involved, to send a clear message that there will be no more tolerance, compromise or downplaying of any form of bullying — whether physical, mental, verbal or cyber,' he wrote on Facebook.
Asyraf Wajdi's remark came as he expressed sorrow over the death of Form One student Zara Qairina at a religious secondary school in Sabah, which has been linked to bullying.
He called for a holistic and coordinated anti-bullying initiative involving teachers, wardens, administrators, parents and students.
In addition, parents were reminded to regularly check on their children and report any signs of bullying to schools or hostels.
He said he often reminds students during his surprise visits to Mara Junior Science College (MRSM) to be alert, support each other and speak up against bullying.
'No one should be afraid to report acts of bullying — regardless of who is involved — or fear being labelled with derogatory nicknames like 'Mat Pot', 'Jibam', or 'Poyo'.
'Every student has a duty to break the cycle of bullying,' he added.
Asyraf also warned MRSM principals against any attempt to conceal bullying cases, warned that firm disciplinary action would be taken against any college administration attempting to downplay such incidents.
He stressed there must be zero tolerance for bullying and no dismissal of it as mere peer 'banter'.
Yesterday, Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek confirmed the police are investigating the case involving a Form One student who allegedly fell from a third-floor dormitory at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Agama (SMKA) Tun Datu Mustafa Limauan, Sabah.
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Articles 74, 80(1), Item 4(l) of the Federal List and Item 4 of the State List are reproduced below: Article 74 — Subject matter of Federal and State laws (1) Without prejudice to any power to make laws conferred on it by any other Article, Parliament may make laws with respect to any of the matters enumerated in the Federal List or the Concurrent List (that is to say, the First or Third List set out in the Ninth Schedule). (2) Without prejudice to any power to make laws conferred on it by any other Article, the Legislature of a State may make laws with respect to any of the matters enumerated in the State List (that is to say, the Second List set out in the Ninth Schedule) or the Concurrent List. (3) The power to make laws conferred by this Article is exercisable subject to any conditions or restrictions imposed with respect to any particular matter by this Constitution. (4) Where general as well as specific expressions are used in describing any of the matter enumerated in the Lists set out in the Ninth Schedule the generality of the former shall not be taken to be limited by the latter. Article 80 — Distribution of Executive powers (1) Subject to the following provisions of this Article the executive authority of the Federation extends to all matters with respect to which Parliament may make laws, and the executive authority of a State to all matters with respect to which the Legislature of that State may make laws. No smoking and no vaping warning displayed in food store in Puchong. — Picture by Choo Choy May . Item 4(l) Federal List Civil and criminal law and procedure and the administration of justice, including — (l) betting and lotteries. Item 4 State List Local government outside the Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur, Labuan and Putrajaya, including — (a) Local administration; municipal corporations; local, town and rural board and other local authorities; local government services, local rates, local government elections; (b) Obnoxious trades and public nuisances in local authority areas. After setting out the above provisions, the learned judge said: 'An important point to note is that the words 'with respect to' in Article 74 must be interpreted with extensive amplitude. The cardinal rule of interpretation is that the entries in the legislative lists are not to be read in a narrow or restricted sense and that each general word should be held to extend to all ancillary or subsidiary matters which can fairly and reasonably be said to be comprehended in it. 'The widest possible construction, according to the ordinary meaning of the words in the entry, must be put upon them. In construing the words in a constitutional document conferring legislative power the most liberal construction should be put upon the words so that the same may have effect in widest amplitude. 'It is also well settled that the phrase 'with respect to' appearing in Article 74(1) and (2) of the Federal Constitution — the provision conferring legislative power upon the Federal and State Governments respectively — is an expression of wide import. As observed by Latham CJ in Bank of New South Wales v The Commonwealth: 'A power to make laws 'with respect to' a specific subject is as wide a legislative power as can be created. No form of words has been suggested which would give a wider power. The power conferred upon a Parliament by such word ... is wide.' 'Another equally important point to note is that the function of the entries in the Legislative Lists in the Ninth Schedule is not to confer powers of legislation, but merely to demarcate the fields in which legislative bodies operate. 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