KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 15 — The recent fatal stabbing of a student in Petaling Jaya is a wake-up call that demands a unified response from all sectors of society, said Women, Family, and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri.
She said rather than pointing fingers, which distracts from the real social crises facing youth, there must be a collective and compassionate response, from parents and teachers to community leaders and the government, grounded in compassion and concern.
“With the new challenges facing parents and children today, (my ministry) will not cease in its efforts to improve our services.
“However, we cannot do this alone; tackling these challenges requires every party to play its part. We often hear the phrase ‘whole-of-nation, whole-of-government approach’, this is precisely what we need, to come together not only to strengthen policies and programmes but also to support family and community institutions with more empathy,” she told reporters at the Parliament building today.
She concurred with the statement by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on the influence of social media and the need for firm government action.
Anwar announced that the Cabinet will soon debate decisive action on school safety and student discipline, tackling issues from social media influence to the recent spate of incidents that demand urgent intervention.
Nancy believes that while stern action is needed, it must be balanced with empathy. It is crucial, she added, to understand the root causes of these issues with discipline, technology, guidance, communication, and love and care within the family and school community.
“The recent tragedy involving two teenagers is both heartbreaking and deeply concerning. These young lives, which should be filled with promise and guidance, have been shattered, a life and a future stolen. This is a loss that should trouble us all.
“As a society, we cannot view this tragedy as an isolated case. It reflects the challenges to our values and the social pressures our children are facing today, at home, in school, and in the borderless digital world,” she said.
When asked about the role of parents as the primary shapers of a child’s character, Nancy said the development of a child’s morals and core values certainly begins in the home, and called on parents to lead by example and guide their children so they can be part of a generation of high moral character and discipline.
She was commenting on the killing of a Form 4 girl, who was allegedly stabbed by a 14-year-old boy at a Selangor secondary school yesterday.
In the 9.30am incident, the victim was found with multiple stab wounds in the girls’ toilets.
This killing follows a series of disturbing incidents involving students, including a gang rape case in Melaka that led to the immediate expulsion of four Form 5 boys and a Form 3 girl.
