Student Safety Dominates First Week Of Budget 2026 Debate

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 17 (Bernama) -- Student safety and welfare took centre stage in the first week of the Dewan Rakyat debate on the Supply Bill 2026 at the policy stage, following a series of recent incidents involving school students.

Lawmakers from both the government and opposition called on the Education Ministry (MOE) to utilise its RM66.2 billion allocation under Budget 2026 to address student-related issues, strengthen teacher competency and upgrade school facilities.

Among the proposals raised were the installation of closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras, improvements to the student discipline monitoring system, the controlled reinstatement of corporal punishment, and education reforms aimed at reducing teachers’ administrative workload so they can focus on teaching.

Lim Guan Eng (PH-Bagan) said there was a need to reinstate caning as a disciplinary measure, provided it follows strict guidelines and procedures.

He said caning had proven to be effective in the past and suggested that teachers authorised to carry out the punishment undergo psychological assessments to ensure student safety.

Datuk Seri Doris Sophia Brodi (GPS-Sri Aman) proposed that the government establish a data-driven monitoring system for bullying and student misconduct cases and make empathy and compassion modules mandatory in schools.

She urged the government to increase the number of counsellors and psychologists, recommending a ratio of at least one counsellor for every 200 students to curb the rising social problems among youths.

Doris Sophia noted that the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) recorded over 3,000 bullying cases between 2022 and 2024, nearly 60 per cent of which occurred in schools, and expressed concern over the 400 cases of molestation and rape involving minors recorded last year alone.

Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman (MUDA-Muar) also raised concerns about student safety, urging the installation of CCTV cameras in schools and firm action against those linked to criminal cases, including wardens and principals.

He called for stricter enforcement of the “you touch, you go” policy to curb bullying, stressing that immediate prosecution would send a strong message that such behaviour would not be tolerated.

In addition, Rodziah Ismail (PH-Ampang) suggested that the MOE establish a Teacher Workload and School Safety Task Force and create a unified national digital education system to integrate reporting mechanisms across the ministry, state, and district education offices.

Meanwhile, Yeo Bee Yin (PH-Puchong), who chairs the Select Committee on Women, Children and Community Development, said her committee would summon MOE and PDRM for a hearing before presenting a report on school safety in Parliament.

When tabling Budget 2026 on Oct 10, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who is also Finance Minister, announced an allocation of RM66.2 billion for the MOE, up from RM64.2 billion this year, with school infrastructure remaining a MADANI government priority.

According to the Dewan Rakyat calendar, the policy stage debate runs for eight days until Oct 28, followed by the committee stage debate from Nov 5 to 27.

Budget 2026 will pool and optimise national resources, including funds from government-linked investment companies (GLICs), federal statutory bodies and Minister of Finance Incorporated entities, through public expenditure totalling RM470 billion compared to RM452 billion last year.

The figure includes RM338.2 billion in federal operating expenditure, RM81 billion in development expenditure and RM30 billion in GLIC investments.

The Third Meeting of the Fourth Session of the 15th Parliament will run for 35 days until Dec 4.

-- BERNAMA