People are still reeling from the brutal stabbing of a 16-year-old girl in Bandar Utama and the gang rape of a 15-year-old student by five Form Five boys in Melaka.
These are just two of several shocking recent cases involving schoolchildren. It is undeniably a national concern that implicates not just the students, but also teachers, parents, and the wider community.
The public – including Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim – has been debating whether caning should be permitted in schools. But is caning really the right approach to address the rise in student misconduct in Malaysia?
For context, 68 countries have already banned corporal punishment. The United Nations member states have also agreed on a 2030 target to eliminate all forms of corporal punishment as part of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), adopted in 2015 to tackle poverty and inequality.
Instead of reverting to caning, Malaysia should explore strategies that build schools rooted in empathy, respect, and accountability.
One effective approach is to focus on repairing harm rather than simply punishing wrongdoing. This helps students understand the consequences of their actions, take responsibility for their behaviour, and develop key life skills such as emotional regulation, conflict resolution, and empathy – all crucial for preventing future misconduct.
It is worth noting that caning is already permitted in schools. Yet, despite its presence in the system for decades, it has not prevented the troubling incidents we now see.
On Oct 23, Anwar told Parliament he supported caning, though he stressed that it was his personal opinion and not government policy. He added that caning should not be conducted publicly or abused, and should be limited to striking the student’s palms.
He made this remark after Jelutong MP R.S.N. Rayer defended caning as an effective deterrent and questioned the prosecution of two Penang teachers charged under Section 324 of the Penal Code for caning a student – an offence punishable by up to 10 years’ imprisonment and whipping.
I disagree that caning is the solution. Policies concerning children’s welfare should never be driven by emotion or pressure. Decisions must be grounded in evidence, informed by consultation with experts in education, child protection, and psychology.
Disciplinary issues in schools are not new. We do not need to reinvent the wheel, but we must move away from reactive measures and adopt preventive, research-based approaches that put the child first.
Every decision made about children has far-reaching consequences for their future – and for society as a whole.
Another important consideration is the long-term psychological impact on a child who has been caned. What happens if the child is wrongly accused, perhaps due to peer pressure or a hasty investigation?
In my work with thousands of juveniles over the years, I have found that many carry deep psychological and emotional scars from harsh punishment. Those who were unfairly punished often grow up bitter, distrustful, and emotionally distant.
Rushing into policy changes without careful thought is akin to opening a can of worms. Rather than turning to corporal punishment, we should focus on cultivating school environments built on empathy, respect, and accountability – where children learn from their mistakes, not fear them.
Professor Dr Kamal Kenny Saravanan is a consultant and social psychologist.
The views expressed here are the personal opinion of the writer and do not necessarily represent that of Twentytwo13.
