IPOH: Individuals who are capable of beating up another person are emotionally unstable, says Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad.

       The Perak Mentri Besar said people who were emotionally stable could feel love, fear and embarrassment and would not beat up another person.

       "To me, those who can beat up another person are not emotionally stable. If they are willing to do so, then there is something wrong with them," he said.

       Saarani said this at a press conference after opening the Ipoh International Art Festival at the People of Remarkable Talents (PORT) premises here on Saturday (Dec 11).

       "As a former teacher, (I think) sometimes, students at hostels just want to let off steam as they could be unhappy with certain things, maybe towards their parents, teachers or they do not want to stay at the hostel," he added.

       This comes after a male Form One student was reportedly bullied by his peers at a boarding school in Kuala Kangsar.

       The incident was recorded on a video clip which had since gone viral on social media on Thursday (Dec 9) and the police have since detained six of the students to facilitate investigations.

       Saarani also said the person who recorded the incident should have stopped the act and not recorded it.

       He added that he hopes parents observe and understand the changes in their children's feelings, especially when it comes to children at boarding schools.

       "Teachers and hostel wardens too have roles to observe the changes in the students' behaviour. There have been other bullying incidents in the country and I hope it will not recur," he added.