KUCHING: DAPSY Sarawak Treasurer Wong King Yii has criticised the Education Minister’s proposal to reward schools with a ‘perfect record’ of zero bullying cases, calling it a misguided move that will only encourage cover-ups instead of ensuring student safety.
“This initiative risks creating a culture of silence where schools sweep cases under the carpet rather than confront them. Students have already lost much of their trust in a school system that was supposed to protect them. This policy will not rebuild that trust but instead fuel fear, silence victims, and embolden bullies,” he said.
Wong stressed that bullying cannot be treated as a numbers game, warning that the incentive scheme would pressure schools to suppress complaints just to protect a ‘perfect record’.
He urged the Ministry to focus on transparency and accountability by establishing a direct and anonymous reporting channel where victims can bypass school authorities and lodge complaints straight with the Ministry.
“Schools that manipulate or falsify reports must face punishments far heavier than if they had reported the truth honestly. Only then will integrity matter more than image,” he added.
Wong further called for tougher consequences on bullies, including police involvement for repeat offenders, while ensuring victims are protected through whistleblower-style safeguards and the right to transfer schools to avoid retaliation.
“Our children deserve more than hollow incentives and perfect statistics. They deserve a Ministry willing to do the hard work of ensuring transparency, enforcing accountability, and above all, protecting the safety and dignity of every student. Anything less is a betrayal of our responsibility to them,” Wong said.
By Connie Chieng