PUTRAJAYA: Muar Member of Parliament Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman has recalled being slapped to the ground when he tried to defend a schoolmate from bullies during his student days.
He said the incident occurred while he was studying at a military school and preparing for the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination.
“I once witnessed a bullying incident at school. When I tried to defend my friend, I was slapped so hard that I fell.
“I’ve shared the story in my book, and my schoolmates who were there at the time have confirmed it.
“I wasn’t the type to stay silent, so when bullying happened right in front of me during SPM preparations, I stepped in. But I ended up being slapped instead.
“People see me as active in sports now, but back then I was small in size and rather bookish,” he said when met yesterday.
Syed Saddiq was speaking after attending the announcement of Thong Bowl’s achievement in the Asean Book of Records for outstanding contributions to the halal food industry, held at IOI City Mall.
On the issue of bullying, he said that he shared his experience not out of resentment towards the perpetrator, but as a reminder of the need to keep schools safe.
“Imagine if parents today were negligent in caring for their children to the point of injury, they could face criminal action.
“Parents send their children to school with the hope that teachers will serve as their second parents. That is why we must respect the institution of schooling itself,” he said.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
