KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 10 — The Sultan of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah has expressed continued sadness over the fatal stabbing of a 16-year-old student at SMK Bandar Utama 4 in Petaling Jaya in October.
“I never imagined that such a tragedy could happen in Malaysia, more so, in Selangor. I could only think of the families of these students. I feel deeply for the family of the deceased," said His Royal Highness.
Speaking to the Malaysian National News Agency's (Bernama) chairman Datuk Seri Wong Chun Wai during an interview in conjunction with his 80th birthday, the Ruler said that he had given deep thought to what had happened.
“I have listened to many views. One thing is certain: we cannot ignore this. I pray it will not happen ever again, anywhere.
It is more than just a disciplinary problem; it is about values, environment, and digital influence.
“Malaysians are quick to blame other people. Teachers are blamed, the Education Minister is blamed, and the ministry is blamed. We blamed everyone except ourselves as parents,’’ said the Ruler.
His Royal Highness said, “We have no idea what kind of games these minors are playing online. Is the content violent in nature? Do they promote forbidden content?
“We expect teachers to be surrogate parents after the children are dropped off at the school gates,’’ he said.
Sultan Sharafuddin added that the problem worsens in the absence of support, when families are too busy to connect, when schools focus more on grades than on emotional well-being, and when online platforms become a child’s primary source of social interaction.
Therefore, the Ruler called for greater digital literacy and empathy education, not just in schools but also for parents.
“Know what your kids are doing. Please take a more active role to talk to your children. They have become more connected online than ever, but increasingly disconnected from empathy,’’ said His Royal Highness.
Similarly, the Sultan is pleased that the government is taking steps to prohibit children under 16 from accessing social media, saying it is in the right direction.
The Ruler urged the government to emulate Denmark's move, which has introduced educational initiatives that emphasise social and emotional learning as a core component of the national curriculum, most notably through a mandatory weekly class dedicated to developing empathy and respect.
Since 1993, all children in Danish public schools, from ages six to 16, have been required to participate in the weekly “klassens tid” (Class Time).
“Such initiatives are important. It is not good enough to simply punish, but children must learn to respect people of other faiths and races, for example. Laws alone are not sufficient.
“We must instil the importance of values, tolerance and respect in our kids,” said Sultan Sharafuddin.
