Netizens have expressed concern after a video posted online Friday showed a Form Five (final year of high school) student willingly accepting a beating from a group of friends in a school classroom.
The 29-second clip that has been circulating online shows a group of eight boys singing Happy Birthday to an unidentified friend, and then assaulting him with kicks and broomsticks.
You can catch several version of the video online.
Berita Harian reports that the attack occurred in February this year, and some students are claiming that it is a common tradition at the Section 9, Shah Alam school where it occurred.
However, when BH contacted the school, officials said that the only “tradition” they were aware of was that some students would throw flour at the birthday boy or girl, and that this was an “isolated incident.”
The school was apparently unaware of the attack until the video went viral over the weekend, and why it was posted month later is still unclear.
Despite clear video circulating of the students involved, a police report has yet to be filed. Authorities say they will only investigate if a report on the matter is initiated.
Deputy Education Minister Datuk P. Kamalanathan has ordered the state ministry conduct look into the incident themselves, and to submit a report.
The video has emerged the week following Malaysia’s anti-bullying campaign aimed at students, #StandTogether, which has been encouraging kindness among one another through various initiatives and campaigns.
With friends like these, who needs enemies?
