KUALA LUMPUR: The Defence Ministry is implementing measures to prevent bullying at Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia (UPNM), including installing closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras, and increasing the frequency of checks and roll calls.
Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said since January, first-year students had been housed separately from other students, and from October, they were placed at different levels.
He said roll calls, too, had been conducted separately from senior students since last month.
"Regarding the separation of senior and junior students, the CCTV installation and other measures, this was done after the ironing incident… This (CCTV) will increase.
"If the situation gets out of control, I am just sharing this, I am not saying it will happen (again), but they could do roll calls every hour… even at 2am or 4am.
"When doing roll calls, they have to wear their uniforms and carry their weapons, and they have to line up," he said at a press conference after launching the 2024 National Integrity Day celebration here today.
On Oct 31, the armed forces confirmed that an investigation had been launched into an alleged bullying case involving a second-year cadet officer at the Military Training Academy (ALK) in UPNM, Sungai Besi.
Police had seized the iron as part of the case's exhibit and had so far recorded the statement of 16 people, which included medical officers, university staff, cadet officers and coaches.
Last month, senior student Amirul Iskandar Norhanizan, 22, was charged with voluntarily causing hurt with a dangerous weapon on a second-year cadet officer, Muhammad Salman Mohd Saiful Surash, at the university's dormitory.