KUALA LUMPUR: The government will not tolerate any form of bullying in the country's education systems, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Speaking at the Temu Anwar Dialogue programme at the National Defence University of Malaysia (UPNM), he said the issue of bullying has become rampant due to certain parties adopting a permissive stance towards it.
He said the issue of bullying presents a challenge not only for the highest levels of university leadership, but also demands a holistic response and action from all the relevant parties.
"This is a small group and does not represent the entire student body, but the culture permits it...a culture of thuggery, bullying, and gangsterism within the education system, be it in national schools, Chinese, Tamil, Maahad Tahfiz, or religious schools.
"Such things cannot happen if the culture rejects it. The culture of thuggery and gangsterism within our educational system has become madness. We talk about knowledge, but not about character and values.
"Hence we must emphasise values and morals, as we currently are taking a permissive stance towards it.
"I will inform the education ministers to not tolerate it, I am giving a warning and advice that such things should not happen," he said.
Also present were the Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir and Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin.
On Wednesday, the armed forces said it had launched an investigation into another bullying case at UPNM involving a second-year cadet officer at the Military Training Academy (ALK).
The cadet was allegedly bullied and abused by a senior officer using a heated iron, which reportedly left burn marks on his chest.
This is the second case involving the same method of abuse at UPNM in seven years.
In 2017, the country was shocked by the tragic death of UPNM cadet officer Zulfarhan Osman Zulkarnain, who died from being bullied, beaten, and tortured, with most of his body repeatedly pressed with a steam iron.
Six former UPNM students were sentenced to death by hanging by the Court of Appeal for Zulfarhan's murder.
Anwar also called for the importance of understanding knowledge deeply, as he believes it can instil values, morals, and good manners within society.
He said this is also crucial for producing graduates with first-class ideas and character.
"What is the meaning of intelligence and honour without values, morals, and manners? It leads to the training of corrupt, foolish world leaders…who lack educational skills and are deficient in wisdom and values.
"This includes systemic issues across all fields, including in the military, from arms purchases, negotiations, tenders, commissions, and so forth. All of this is connected to values and morals.
"So, the challenge for young people is skill, wisdom, and certainly values. This is why I often say in dialogues with students that true wisdom (ma'rifah) is only achieved through the nurturing of values.
"Some knowledge brings benefits, while some cause harm. True wisdom sits at the top, aligned with what Saidina Ali once said: it's not merely the blossoming of knowledge, but wisdom that is needed," he said.