IPOH: Another bullying case, this time involving students in a school hostel in Kuantan, Pahang, is being investigated.

       The Education Ministry is waiting for reports over the incident and would investigate it before deciding on the need for action, said Deputy Education Minister Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon.

       He said they would need to get and go through the reports before deciding on any action.

       Four students, aged 14, were reported to have been treated like punching bags by eight of their seniors at a school hostel in Kuantan, Pahang on Friday (Dec 10).

       The victims were also said to have been locked up in a room for about two hours and beaten up for apparently watching videos using their smartphones.

       "We need to wait for reports from the relevant parties first before deciding on anything," he told reporters after witnessing the United Chinese School Committees Association of Malaysia Perak committee swearing-in ceremony at a restaurant here on Sunday (Dec 12).

       This was following an earlier bullying incident on Thursday (Dec 9) whereby a Form One student was punched by a group of his peers at a boarding school dormitory in Kuala Kangsar.

       On the proposal to have full time wardens or staff at hostels to prevent bullying incidents, Dr Mah said the ministry welcomed the ideas.

       "We thanked all the opinions and ideas given by concerned folk and we will study these," he added.