KUALA LUMPUR: The bullying case involving a second-year cadet at the National Defence University of Malaysia (UPNM) is under the purview of the Defence Ministry.
Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir said this when commenting on the case which surfaced on Wednesday.
While explaining about the jurisdictions involved, he said there are two institutions responsible for the students there.
He said UPNM is responsible for these students between 8am until 5pm; and then until the next morning, the Military Training Academy (ALK) are responsible for them.
"So, this is somewhat unique in the context of UPNM, because it involves cadet officer undergoing training.
"Cadet officers are placed under ALK; in the mornings, they attend lectures, and from the afternoon until the next morning, they are under ALK supervision.
"ALK is under the Defence Ministry; whatever it is, we leave it to Defence Ministry discretion," Zambry told reporters when met after attending the Friday prayers at the Muhammad Al-Fateh Mosque, UPNM.
He also seconded Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's statement earlier that the government would not tolerate any form of bullying in the country's education systems.
Zambry urged everyone to pay attention to any bullying cases at all the education institutions.
On Wednesday, the armed forces said it had launched an investigation into another bullying case at UPNM involving a second-year cadet officer at 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.