Mat Sabu revives school caning debate after Rafizi, PTA remarks

 ​[[{“value”:”

Parti Amanah Negara president Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu or affectionately known as Mat Sabu has urged experts to find effective ways to restore discipline in schools, including reconsidering whether the use of the “rotan” or caning should be reintroduced as a disciplinary measure.

Speaking at Amanah’s national convention, Mohamad, who is also the Agriculture and Food Security Minister, said education should not only focus on academic achievements but also on moral values and respect for teachers.

He expressed concern that parents today fear their children might develop negative traits despite being sent to school.

“Should ‘rotan’ return to schools?” he asked, recalling that in his youth, both teachers and parents saw caning as a form of guidance rather than punishment.

He noted that today’s parents often report teachers for disciplinary actions, leading to court cases.

In August this year, the National Parent-Teacher Associations Consultative Council supported an MP’s call for reintroducing caning, provided it strictly followed Education Ministry guidelines. Its president, Associate Prof Datuk Dr Mohamad Ali Hasan, proposed that parents be present to witness any caning to ensure fairness.

However, in October, Pandan MP Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli warned that reinstating corporal punishment would oversimplify complex social issues.

He argued that student misbehaviour stems largely from family and economic pressures, not classroom discipline alone, and called for comprehensive solutions combining counselling, parental engagement, and social support rather than relying solely on caning. — Nov 8, 2025

 

Main photo credit: Sinar Harian

The post Mat Sabu revives school caning debate after Rafizi, PTA remarks first appeared on Focus Malaysia.

“}]]