Johor Baru Umno Youth chief Khalid Mohamed said yesterday the parents of the SMK Bandar Baru Uda students had signed a consent form to allow their children, from Form One to Four, to undergo the three-day camp.
Even though the venue was stated as the Kopen Training Consultant camp in Kluang, it turned out to be at Kluang Prison.
The school's Parent-Teacher Association paid RM90 for each participant.
Khalid said the boys had left home on Friday, only to find themselves taken to the prison.
"The boys were handcuffed and treated like criminals the minute they arrived there.
"This is the second time we have received such a complaint.
"The school should take action against teachers who worked with warders to punish the students."
Student Mohd Rafsanjani Mohd Rafi, 16, said the boys were divided into groups of eight in the hostel.
"On the first day, we were given crew cuts and told to strip to our underwear. Those who were slow were punched, pinched, slammed against the wall and ordered to do tough exercises under the sun.
"We were later divided into groups of five and taken to a room and it was there that we received beatings. There were about 10 warders involved in the incident.
"I was terrified when one of the warders grabbed me by the neck and asked me what I was in for. I told him it was my teacher who told me to come here."
He added that the three teachers who accompanied the students on the trip only laughed when they saw the warders beating up the students.
Syed Amirulkhir Syed Khaidir, 16, said he still had a bruise at the back of his neck caused by a hard pinch from one of the warders, who punched him in the abdomen when he was slow in understanding their instructions.
"The warders ordered me to do pumping exercises, squats and a 30m rolling exercise on the road."
Azlan Baharom, 16, said he, too, was pushed against a wall and punched.
"Many of us have attended motivational camps but this outing was totally different."
Rafsanjani's parents, Mohd Rafi Hussien, 44, and Zuhidah Zainal, 41, expressed anger at the way the school had organised the programme
Zuhidah said: "The students are not criminals. Why should they be subjected to such harsh action? It does not create awareness nor motivate them in any way."
Present at the press conference were Johor Baru MCA Youth chief Kua Song Tuck, Johor Baru MIC Youth chief S. Deva and Johor People's Progressive Party Youth secretary M. Muralitharan.
Kua said they had brought the matter to the attention of Deputy Education Minister Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong, who promised an investigation into the matter.
The school authorities could not be reached for comment.
No comments:
Post a Comment