Two SPM students should be guided not arrested, MP says

SHAH ALAM - An MP has objected to the arrest of a Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) student who used abusive words due to unhappiness over a question in the history paper.

Bandar Kuching MP Kelvin Yii said the student should be guided and not being cuffed.

"In this case, the teenager involved in the video should be given proper education and guidance rather than being treated as a criminal under oppressive laws," he said in a statement on Sunday.

Yesterday, two 18-year-olds were reportedly arrested for a video they had made which went viral in which they reportedly expressed their dissatisfaction with the history paper in the SPM examination and insulted Singapore.

Therefore, Yii called for Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 to be reviewed to ensure the definitions in the act were not too broad and vague.

“Section 233(1)(a) of the Communications and Multimedia Act is a serious encroachment on the freedom of speech and expression guaranteed by Article 10(1)(a) of our Federal Constitution," said the DAP youth chief.

Therefore, he said, the welfare of students needs to be prioritised so that their mental health is not disturbed as it went against the spirit of educating young students.

He also requested that the investigation against the student be dropped and that they should be given the necessary guidance and support to maintain their mental well-being.