KUALA LUMPUR – Former natural resources and environmental sustainability minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad has slammed Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek over what he described as knee-jerk responses to the recent spate of violent crimes in schools, urging her to confront the systemic failures behind them instead of resorting to political posturing.
Nik Nazmi said the public’s anxiety over student safety stems from deeper structural issues, not isolated cases of bullying or misconduct.
“Parents across the country are worried not just because of crime in schools, but because of a more fundamental question – what is happening within our education system?” he said in an online statement.
He criticised the Education Ministry’s tendency to announce new plans or slogans immediately after each incident, saying such actions only show that the leadership “has yet to understand the root of this crisis”.
“The real problem is not the lack of policies but a culture and system that fail to support teachers and students,” he said, referring to reports of disciplinary cases being “swept under the carpet”.
Nik Nazmi urged Fadhlina to listen directly to teachers and students instead of relying solely on bureaucratic reports.
“A minister must defend those trying to improve the situation, not undermine them for the sake of political survival,” he said.
His comments come amid growing public outrage following the death of 16-year-old Yap Shing Xuen, who was stabbed by a fellow student at SMK Bandar Utama Damansara (4) on Tuesday, and the arrest of four teenagers in Kedah over a gang rape and child pornography case in Baling.
Nik Nazmi said schools with high rates of disciplinary issues should not be branded “problematic” but given more support, resources and counselling.
He also warned that rising dropout rates and exam absenteeism were early red flags that had long been ignored.
“The ministry’s five-point plan only touches on the symptoms, not the roots,” he said.
“It is time to rebuild an education ecosystem founded on trust in teachers, student safety and humanity. Ultimately, the minister must be accountable—not the officials or teachers. Accountability cannot be transferred,” he added. — October 17, 2025