Published: Friday July 6, 2012 MYT 8:02:00 PM

Five families pull out of school sons targeted by bullies

By QISHIN TARIQ

KUALA LUMPUR: Five families have had to take their sons out of middle school after a fight over cigarettes escalated to weeks of bullying and physical violence.

Cheong Wai Hong, 14 , said he was approached by two former students from his school who asked for a cigarette.

“When I said I didn't have a stick, they called me arrogant and suddenly attacked me - hitting me on the face and arms.

Luckily, a teacher helped break up the fight,” said the student from Sekolah Menengah Pandan Indah.

Cheong and four of his friends, aged between 14 and 15, were then repeatedly harassed and beaten, allegedly by schoolmates as well as dropouts and students from other schools between June 25 and July 6.

Low Chun Fei, 15, said a large group of teenagers had beaten him with a hammer to the head and also kicked him after he did not reveal to the group where one of his friends was.

Chun Fei's father Low Kok Wai, 39, said he and the other parents had lodged five police reports so far, but were disappointed with the lack of action from the school's management and police.

“I hope the police will quickly arrest those involved.

“We have removed our children from the school for their safety. But if the matter is not addressed we are going to have to send them to a different school,” said Low.

Another parent, housewife Pang Mei Fong, 42, said she was worried every time her son went to school.

“He's already been beaten up quite badly, what if the bullies come back and do worse,” she asked.

Pandan Wanita MCA chief Cindy Leong Siew Kam said this was the third report she received from parents about fights occurring at the school.

“Not only are fights in the area becoming more frequent, but the incidents are now occurring right in front of the school,” she said during a press conference at the Pandan Indah MCA office, here Friday.

She added that the bullying had become so serious that the students were scared to go to school.

“Schools should be a safe place for children, so I have ask that the education ministry and police to step up efforts to investigate matters and get to the bottom of the bullying issue at this school,” she said.

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