This is what Bintulu Member of Parliament Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing wanted to know in parliament when he mentioned of students dying their hair with bright colours. He said there were those who had dyed their hair red, yellow, white or green, and it seemed that schools were not bothered.

“We cannot deny it. The alarm bell has sounded in the schools and the education ministry must deal with the problems fast.”

Tiong, who is also a Justice of the Peace, said this during a recent parliamentary sitting, when his speech on student indiscipline sparked an active debate.

Several members of parliament raised their concern and agreed with Tiong that the education ministry must act quickly.

Member of Parliament for Cameron Highlands Devamany Krishnasamy said the problem was indeed serious, illustrating that in the United States of America, students in the 60s were punching and kicking in fights. “Later, they switched to using weapons and now, they are using guns.

“We should not let the situation in our schools deteriorate to such an extent.”

Tiong had started his speech with references to situations in Bintulu, saying that during a recent check, a student was found hiding a suspension letter in his school bag to prevent it from reaching his parents.

He was disappointed that the school had failed to check on the student’s address.

“They (schools) are not doing their duty. With such miscommunication, the parents will be kept in the dark and thinking that their children are doing well in school.”

Supporting Tiong was Jerai Member of Parliament Datuk Paduka Padruddin Amiruldin who said the education system in Thailand required students of both primary and secondary schools to keep unique hairstyles to differentiate them from the rest.

“This has successfully prevented students from playing truant.”

Jasin Member of Parliament Datuk Mohd Said Yusof felt that canning students to address undisciplined students should be a matter left to the teachers.

He said there were NGOs opposing to this, as they regarded it a violation of their human rights.

“But, if this can correct a student and serve as a deterrence to the others, why not?”

Tiong was worried that if the problem was left unchecked, the moral value of the young generations would erode.

He cited another example in Bintulu, involving a 15-year-old girl in a triangular love affair. He said this had led an outsider to the hostel to fight with another student over the girl.

He was sad that some schools had treated their reputation more important than the affairs of their students, and swept such matters under the carpet.

He said he had once asked the police why certain cases had not come to their attention.

“The police said the cases were not reported. There are cases of students involved in hooliganism, violent cases and others that have sparked public concern.”

He said if the school failed to take remedial action, students would become more daring. “Sometime, suspending them will only worsen the situation. Therefore, there must be a system to check on this.”

He suggested setting up a special school for problematic students.