Malaysian parents express shock as children are allegedly confined in a cage-like area at a public school in Rembau, Negeri Sembilan.
The incident was brought to light by a concerned father whose own child attends the same school.
On June 27, Azuan shared screenshots of a WhatsApp conversation between parents and teachers from the school, exposing the issue.
One parent directly confronted the teachers in the chat, seeking clarification about the alleged placement of their child behind bars at the school.
“I see no one wants to respond? I will come to the school. I want to meet (two teachers) and the headmaster,” expressed the visibly upset parent.
Promptly, a teacher responded and admitted to confining the parent’s child in the cage-like area.
Approximately 20 minutes later, the concerned parent shared three photographs in the group chat, revealing a corner enclosed by black metal frames.
The pictures depicted a space with an electrical panel within reach, indicating a potential safety hazard for children who might be placed in time-out.
The area also contained a waste bin, two paint buckets, a broom, a dustpan, and a flimsy plastic chair.
“My son was locked up here. Isolated. He’s just a Year 1 student!” exclaimed the parent in disbelief.
“You are destroying students’ morale to come to school. It seems like you lack common sense,” the message read.
Azuan disclosed that while his seven-year-old son had never experienced confinement in the enclosed area, he had witnessed his friends being locked up there.
“My son informed me yesterday (June 27) when I asked him about the cage. He mentioned that his friends had been locked up in the cage before,” Azuan revealed during the conversation.
According to Azuan, the child who was recently confined behind the grilles had allegedly displayed misbehavior in class, leading to the punishment.
“They were unable to stay quiet and kept pulling their friend’s pants,” he claimed.
Azuan suspects that his son’s lack of enthusiasm for school may be a result of witnessing his friends being confined in the corner.
“I have filed a complaint with the district education office and am currently awaiting further action,” the 30-year-old father stated.