BUKIT MERTAJAM, Aug 28 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has emphasised that schools must have zero tolerance for bullying, as such behaviour has no place in efforts to nurture a knowledgeable, civilised, and morally upright generation.
Students, teachers and all parties must work together to reject bullying and the culture of insulting and belittling others.
"That is why I am very firm about this. There is no place in our schools for people who are arrogant, who bully others simply because they are a little stronger.
"I know there are people in schools with such behaviour. I want to remind students, teachers, and lecturers not to tolerate it," he said.
Anwar was addressing a Temu Anwar Bersama Pelajar session in conjunction with the Sahabat MADANI Ambang Merdeka Programme at the Teachers Education Institute, Tuanku Bainun campus today, which was also attended by Education Minister Datuk Seri Fadhlina Sidek.
He added that allowing such a culture to persist could affect young people's character development and, ultimately, the country's future.
Bullying, insulting, and abusive behaviour must be stopped at school to prevent such a culture from being carried into later life, including by those who may eventually become leaders.
The Prime Minister also reminded the public that bullying cases involving a small number of students should not result in the entire school community being negatively labelled.
"Sometimes we read about a school with 1,000 students, but only four are seriously involved in bullying. The media reports on the four and not on the many others," he said.
Schools must foster a new culture based on discipline, mutual respect, and rejecting insulting or belittling others, including discrimination or insults based on skin colour.
Education is not merely about producing academically outstanding students, but also about nurturing individuals with good manners and strong moral values, so national progress goes hand in hand with humanity.
Meanwhile, Anwar recalled his decision as Education Minister (from 1987 to 1990) to relocate a proposed teachers' college from Penang to Seberang Perai, where it later became the current Tuanku Bainun Teachers Education Institute campus.
During a two-day working visit to Penang, he said there had initially been a proposal to establish a new teachers' college on the island, but he believed Seberang Perai had a greater need.
Penang already had Universiti Sains Malaysia and a teachers' college at the time.
"That was when I decided that Seberang Perai must have a teachers' college. We looked for land and secured a site in Bukit Mertajam, and that was how this teachers' college was established," Anwar said.
Meanwhile, Anwar, who is also the Finance Minister, said the government has agreed to allocate RM200,000 for maintenance works at the campus.
