By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Oct 22: The public has been urged to stop circulating videos of a school incident involving an adolescent in Kuching, with Datuk Sri Fatimah Abdullah warning that doing so could violate the child’s rights, expose those involved to online harassment and compromise their privacy and dignity.
The Minister for Women, Early Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Sarawak said the incident must be handled responsibly, with the safety of teachers and students remaining a priority while ensuring the adolescent receives appropriate guidance and support.
Fatimah said any incident involving violence or the use of a weapon must be taken seriously and addressed appropriately to protect the entire school community, in a press statement yesterday (Oct 21).
However, she cautioned against rushing to condemn, label or shame a young person without understanding the circumstances surrounding the incident.
“Accountability and compassion are not mutually exclusive. We can uphold the safety of teachers and students while ensuring that the adolescent is treated with dignity and receives appropriate guidance and support,” she said.
Fatimah also expressed concern over words reportedly shared by the adolescent on Facebook, expressing feelings of loneliness and isolation.
“I have no one. I have no significant other. I have no one to rely on. I was born alone and will die alone,” said in a Facebook post allegedly linked to the teen.
She said such expressions should not be dismissed, stressing that every child deserves to feel valued, heard and supported.
“When a young person says, ‘I have no one,’ our response should be to help them access the support they need, not to deepen their sense of isolation,” she said.
She further urged the public to exercise restraint, avoid speculation and refer any relevant information to the appropriate authorities instead of spreading footage of the incident.
Fatimah warned that once circulated, videos could spread rapidly and remain accessible long after the incident, potentially causing further distress to those involved.
“Social media must not become a platform for public shaming or trial by public opinion,” she said.
She stressed that the responsibility of the community was two-fold: ensuring schools remain safe for teachers and students, and giving young people facing difficulties access to appropriate support.
Fatimah said her ministry remained committed to promoting an environment where safety, dignity, compassion and accountability went hand in hand.
She added that no young person should be defined solely by one incident, while the safety and well-being of the teacher and students affected must not be overlooked.
“Let us choose responsibility over sensationalism, guidance over humiliation, and compassion without compromising safety.
Together, we must ensure that our schools remain safe for teachers and students, while ensuring that no child is left without help and support,” she said. —DayakDaily
