Sabah Bersatu demands zero tolerance on bullying and urgent education reform

Borneo Post

2 days ago

Syafiqah
KOTA KINABALU (Aug 13): 'Parents send their children to school to gain knowledge and learn self-discipline, not to get bullied, physically and mentally tortured, or worse—lose their lives,' declared Dayang Nor Syafiqah binti Abdul Hamid, Bersatu Sipitang Srikandi chief, in a powerful call to action on Wednesday.
She was responding to the national outrage over the tragic death of 13-year-old student Zara Qairina Mahathir, which has exposed deep, systemic failures in safeguarding students—especially in boarding schools.
'No parent should ever have to bury their child and be left wondering if more could have been done to protect them. This is not an isolated incident— it is the result of a broken system that has failed to prioritise children's safety,' Syafiqah said.
She added that she was deeply outraged and saddened that the alleged bullying, which led to this tragic incident, had taken place in a religious school — a place entrusted to nurture faith, discipline, and the highest standards of moral conduct among its students.
She thus demanded the Ministry of Education (MoE) and Sabah Education Department (JPN Sabah) immediately adopt a zero-tolerance policy against bullying — and pair it with urgent, concrete reforms:
1. Mandatory CCTV installation in all hostel corridors and common areas.
2. Zero interference from schools in the filing of police reports.
3. Creation of a Student Protection & Bullying Response Unit under JPN Sabah.
4. Automatic post-mortem and legal inquest for any unnatural student death.
5. Deployment of more qualified counsellors and robust mental health support systems.
6. A prominently displayed Student Welfare Bill of Rights in all schools.
7. An Independent Review Panel to investigate serious incidents and publish findings.
'These are not optional measures. They are life-saving safeguards. Zara's death must be the turning point — not just another statistic in a growing list of preventable tragedies,' she said.
Syafiqah also called for the introduction of a Parental Rights Charter, guaranteeing parents full access to incident records and eliminating barriers to lodging police reports.
'Every hour lost in reporting weakens investigations, destroys evidence, and denies justice. In Zara's case, the Attorney-General's Chambers has already flagged serious investigative gaps — this must never happen again,' she stressed.
She urged leaders in the Sabah State Government and across political lines to act decisively, without delay.
'This is bigger than politics. This is about our children's lives, safety, and dignity. Zara deserved better. All our children do. Sabah Bersatu Srikandi will work with all stakeholders to make these reforms a reality—immediately,' Syafiqah concluded.