YOURSAY | There are worse things than teenagers ranting on social media

YOURSAY | ’Rule of law is there for a reason, but it must be applied sensibly.’

LFL: Arrest of 2 teens over video rant on SPM paper heavy-handed

Mazilamani: If only the police had arrested politicians making disparaging racist comments, this arrest of the two silly students could have been avoided. Not that students don't read newspapers or watch television news.

We know the two students should not have made the video using foul language on the SPM History paper, but what was the motive of the teacher to make that speedy police report and for the police to arrest them and take away their mobile phones?

They may be students who may not even be 18 years old yet, but why such drastic and cruel action? Why traumatise the students when they may have other papers to complete? Please act on the big fish first and avoid the small fish, for venting their stress and frustration.

MS: Why didn't the police view this rant as nothing more than cosplay by a couple of juveniles? After all, they didn't march on public roads wielding weapons and screaming slogans in Arabic.

But seriously, what we have here is a telling demonstration of Madani at work with both the Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail and Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek looking the other way as the cops bravely nab errant schoolboys.

Kiwi: If MP can shout obscenities in Parliament and get away with it what more immature kids who at the spur of the moment did something stupid? Rule of law is there for a reason, but it must be applied sensibly. This case shows that the authority only goes after smaller people to show an example while politicians can get away with anything.

Man on the Silver Mountain: They were just venting their disappointment. Nobody got hurt or killed. Why afraid of some ranting from students? Give them some space to express themselves. They are young and still have lots to learn. It is part of the growing up and learning process. If you intimidate them now, they will become more rebellious due to resentment.

BlueFish0451: The new government could do better. Eat until full, nothing to do? I thought there is so much to do as the country is at the brim of bankruptcy. Where are people like Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh? During my university days after the final exams, I would open my window and shout whatever I wished just to feel better. There were no social media then. I could have been charged 100 times if my action was recorded. What’s wrong with having some freedom of expression?

Anonymous 1092837465: It’s time to do away with History as a compulsory subject in SPM. There should instead be an official government website dedicated to Malaysian history for whoever is interested. The reason given for learning History is so that we don’t repeat the mistakes of the past. But what is happening now is many irresponsible politicians deliberately repeat past wrongdoings for their gain.

Children are made to memorise loads of unnecessary facts when they should be spending more time on other important subjects. You can’t blame them for being frustrated. To add to the psychological injury of these frustrated children, this subject has to be made a compulsory pass in SPM.

YellowCat1156: Oh come on. How many of us were total angels when we were young? The only difference is now things can spread like wildfire over the Internet, whereas long ago it was just between friends.

There are crime syndicates, drug barons, and obvious corruption that deserve police attention. Not this.

Honest: When I first read this story, I was shocked that the two teenagers were arrested. What is wrong with them venting their frustration about the history paper? Their actions will not destabilise Malaysia or cause any harm. The police arrest was unnecessary.

Travis Bickle: The teacher who tried to convert children - still investigating. School kids making a TikTok complaining about exams – arrest immediately!

BOBBYO: In the 1960s and 1970s we studied the history of many nations. They included British, US and German history and not forgetting our own. We did not hear of any student ranting or even showing the middle finger at those who had set up the questions. You can be assured the punishment by the parents would have been harsher than anything by the authorities. Six of the best on your buttocks. Some parents would have even slapped you across the face.

Fast-forward to today. The students today are pampered. They are not only exempted from the exams but also the marks are reduced to make them easier to go on to a higher level. Even the questions that are set for them can be easily answered by even a student who has a very low IQ. Imagine picking the answer from a set of four given answers. That also with the answer staring right at you. The difference between the answers given is enough for the student to know the answer.

The students of those days have to memorise each answer. Dates, figures and times must be known without any available answer presented. Passages after passages of answers must be written from memory. Well, that is a different era. Fast forward, many of them succeeded as the rod was not spared in the homes of many families. There are pros and cons as to the punishment.

This cannot be considered as a subject of freedom of speech, but discipline. If it is not nipped in the bud now, there will be others who will behave more rudely or even go to the extent of assaulting the teacher or invigilator who set the exam questions. It also has gone to the extent of insulting a neighbouring nation.

As to the arrest, the police should have instead gone to the students’ homes and given them a talk or warning about such activities. It should not be repeated or the next time they would be arrested. Anyway, the arrest should make future students, think carefully. Is the action you are taking concerning freedom of speech or is it an act of indiscipline? If it is indiscipline, prepare to face the consequences.

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