These cadets, from the university’s Military Training Academy (ALK), were involved in two bullying cases reported last month.

Defence minister Khaled Nordin said the punishments included expulsion from the academy, fines and repayment of all sponsorship funds received during their studies. They must also leave the ALK.

Although the ministry has already made a decision on the punishments, they require approval from the Armed Forces Council, he said, Bernama reported.

“Once the sentence is confirmed by the council in the next two weeks, the decision will be final,” he told reporters after launching a group of parliamentary volunteers at his MP service centre in Kota Tinggi last night.

Khaled reiterated that the ministry takes bullying incidents at UPNM seriously and will take firm action against those involved, including those who conceal such cases.

“Anyone involved in cruelty, bullying and abuse will face severe punishment. We will also tighten measures against those who hide or fail to report bullying cases,” he said.

The minister said bullying is not part of military training and this is stipulated under cadet officer regulations.

“I want to clarify that while military training is indeed tough, it does not involve acts of cruelty such as assaults with hot irons,” he said.

However, Khaled said there are no plans to prohibit the use of irons at ALK-UPNM, despite the appliance being frequently used as a tool in bullying incidents.

On Nov 8, ALK-UPNM cadet officer Amirul Iskandar Norhanizan, 22, pleaded not guilty at the Kuala Lumpur sessions court to a charge of injuring Salman Saiful Surash, 20, using a hot steam iron, at the academy in UPNM at 11.45pm on Oct 22.

On Nov 10, another bullying case involving a UPNM student was reported, where a first-year student sustained serious injuries, including fractured ribs and spine, after being stomped on by a senior in an incident on Oct 21.