KUALA LUMPUR: Don't shame Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia (UPNM), because the recent bullying cases happened at the Military Training Academy (ALK), which is under the Defence Ministry, said Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin.
He said UPNM accommodated the ministry's cadets and also students from civilian sectors.
"The cases happened at ALK, not at the university.
"If a disciplinary violation occurred at the university, it is the responsibility of the university.
"But these cases happened at ALK's dormitory or during the cadets' military training.
"So it is not fair to make accusations about UPNM because these cases happened at ALK under the Defence Ministry."
He said this at a press conference after launching the 2024 National Integrity Day celebration here today.
Khaled said ALK's cadets at UPNM were under the Defence Ministry, while other UPNM students were under the Higher Education Ministry.
UPNM has 4,200 students, of which 957 are cadet officers enrolled at ALK, he said.
Asked whether the university's top management would be restructured, Khaled said UPNM's administrative matters were under the jurisdiction of the Higher Education Ministry.
To a question about restructuring ALK's administration, he said the ministry would carry out a review to identify weaknesses once investigations into the cases were completed.
He said for now, there was no need to appoint wardens at every dormitory at ALK.
On Oct 31, the armed forces said it had launched an investigation into the alleged bullying of a second-year cadet officer at the Military Training Academy at UPNM.
On Nov 8, senior cadet officer Amirul Iskandar Norhanizan, 22, claimed trial to voluntarily causing hurt with a dangerous weapon to second-year cadet officer Muhammad Salman Mohd Saiful Surash.
On Nov 10, a first-year UPNM student suffered fractures to his ribs and spine after a senior student allegedly stomped on him.