The Malaysian Mental Health Association (MMHA) says it does not agree with corporal punishment in schools as it often leads to long-term emotional and behavioural consequences.
MMHA president Dr Andrew Mohanraj said while the recent fatal stabbing of a 14-year-old student in Bandar Utama, Petaling Jaya, has prompted calls for stronger disciplinary measures in schools, corporal punishment risks doing more harm than good.
Mohanraj, a consultant psychiatrist, said true discipline involves guiding young people to understand the consequences of their actions and develop internal self-control, empathy and moral reasoning.
“These qualities cannot be nurtured through fear or force. Discipline should never be equated with punishment,” he said in a statement.
“A safe and compassionate school is…