PH lawmaker defends education minister against calls to resign

Hulu Langat MP Sany Hamzan on Tuesday defended Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek against mounting pressure to resign following reports of bullying incidents in schools, saying the reasoning behind such calls was flawed.

Sany, from the Pakatan Harapan coalition, questioned the rationale for removing a minister over issues that fall partly outside their direct control. He drew a parallel to road accidents, noting that by the same logic, the government would need to replace numerous ministers responsible for sectors affected by traffic fatalities.

The comments come amid growing public concern over bullying cases in Malaysian schools and calls from various quarters for Sidek to take responsibility. The minister's office has previously acknowledged reports of bullying and outlined steps to address the issue through existing protocols and school management structures.

The debate reflects broader tensions over ministerial accountability in Malaysia, particularly when dealing with systemic issues that involve multiple stakeholders including school administrations, parents, and law enforcement agencies. Education officials have emphasized that schools have established mechanisms to handle bullying cases, though critics argue these measures may be insufficient in some instances.