Defence Minister: Year 1 UPNM Students Will Be Separated from Seniors to Prevent Bullying

Recently, the National Defence University (UPNM) has been riddled with controversy surrounding several bullying and abuse cases among their cadets, including 2 cases that were reported merely weeks apart from each other.

Now, Defence Minister Datuk Seri Khaled Nordin is taking steps to prevent such bullying and abuse cases from happening again.

According to a report by Berita Harian, he shared that Year 1 students have already been segregated from senior students in terms of shared rooms since January of this year.

But now, additional segregation will be conducted in terms of dormitory floors and ‘roll call’, and more closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras will be installed in all dormitory blocks.

“We have also installed closed circuit cameras in all accommodation blocks and the number of CCTVs will be increased,” he said.

Additionally, the government will continue their efforts to raise awareness among cadets regarding bullying and abuse issues, especially considering that the future of perpetrators may be affected by the consequences of their actions.

“We will also give appropriate and maximum punishments as a way of raising awareness and as a move to prevent (bullying incidents) from occurring,”

“Like criminal offences outside, although the punishment is very severe, (the crime) still happens. However, we are trying to further increase the level of awareness in these cadets so that they do not do unwanted things,” he said.

What do you think about this? Do feel free to share your thoughts in the comment section.

Also read: PDRM Says UPNM Cadet Officer Who was Burnt with Iron is Not a Bully Case, But Just an ‘Extreme Joke’