Corpun file 1095 at www.corpun.com

Daily Express, Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, 26 June 1997

Caning for students caught smoking from July 1

(extract)

KENINGAU: The Sabah Education Department has endorsed caning against students caught smoking within the school compound or in public places, effective next month.

Its Director Datuk Dr Hasbullah Haji Mohd Taha said students caught smoking would be given one stroke of the cane for the first offence and two strokes for the second offence.

For the third offence, the student will be caned thrice and subsequently expelled.

He said this while officiating at the Speech and Prize Presentation ceremony of SK Keningau at the community hall here Wednesday morning.

He also stressed that all schools and teacher training colleges in the State would be officially declared "no-smoking" zones from July 1.

In this respect, he directed headmasters and principals to put up "No Smoking" signs within their premises or risk compound fines by the relevant authorities.

Teachers are not spared either as they risk a compound of RM100 if caught smoking in restricted zones, he said.

He reminded that the Health Ministry had issued stringent regulations against smoking in restricted areas including schools with heavier penalties.

[...]

Hasbullah also reminded teachers to refrain from using derogatory words like "stupid" and "lazy" on slow learners but to adopt a more amicable approach to spur them on.

Parents should also play their role by holding amicable discussions with teachers, instead of reacting irrationally to their children's complaints.

Hasbullah urged them to cooperate with the teachers in the interest of their children's future instead.

Later, he presented special prizes to last year's top students Mohd Shah Mohd Said and Joelene Jane Lim, and special awards to students who excelled in various achievements.