JOHOR BARU: The existence of special police liaison officers in schools meant to safeguard students have not deterred cases of gangsterism or bullying in schools.
Johor police chief Datuk Seri Wan Ahmad Najmuddin Mohd said this was mainly because the schools had kept such incidents and cases hidden from the officers.
“I have placed men in each of the school in the state to keep tabs on gangsterism but none of the schools had come forward with any reports of students being involved in gangsterism,” he said at a press conference here.
Najmuddin said this in response to a case where a 15-year-old secondary school boy was assaulted by a group of youths aged between 15 and 19, in Taman Impian Emas, Skudai for refusing to join their gang.
In the incident, which took place on Monday at 5.20pm, police have detained one of the youths, said to be a former school mate of the victim.
“The rising threats of gangsterism in schools should not be taken lightly nor should the school choose to resolve the matter quietly, in order to prevent tainting the school’s image,” he said.