KOTA TINGGI – The decision on penalties for five cadets from the Military Training Academy (MTA) at Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia (UPNM) who were involved in two bullying incidents last month will be revealed within two weeks.
Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin stated that the proposed punishments – which include expulsion, fines, and the reimbursement of sponsorship funds received during their studies – have been decided by the ministry and are awaiting the approval of the Armed Forces Council.
“The ministry has already made a decision regarding the involved cadets – they will indeed face penalties, including expulsion, fines, and the repayment of all expenses borne by the government during their time as cadets at the university, and they must leave the MTA.
“Once the sentence is confirmed by the council in the next two weeks, the decision will be final,” he told reporters at the Kota Tinggi Parliamentary Service Centre last night, Bernama reported.
Khaled emphasised the ministry’s firm stance against bullying at UPNM, including action against those who fail to report or attempt to cover up such incidents.
“Anyone involved in cruelty, bullying and abuse will face severe punishment, and we will also tighten measures against those who hide or fail to report bullying cases,” he said.
The minister clarified that acts of cruelty, such as assaults with hot irons, are not part of military training outlined in cadet officer regulations.
However, he noted there were no plans to ban the use of irons at the institution despite their repeated misuse in bullying incidents.
On November 8, UPNM MTA cadet officer Amirul Iskandar Norhanizan, 22, pleaded not guilty at the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court to a charge of injuring fellow cadet Muhammad Salman Mohd Saiful Surash, 20, with a hot steam iron at the academy on October 22.
Two days later, another case emerged involving a first-year UPNM student who sustained serious injuries, including fractured ribs and spine, after being stomped on by a senior in an incident on October 21. – November 16, 2024