Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman (Muda-Muar) told the Dewan Rakyat today that wardens and officers should also be dragged to court as bullying is not merely an individual act but often protected or ignored by those in charge.

“Sue them until they feel the financial consequences so that in the future, they won’t dare turn a blind eye,” he said while debating the defence ministry’s 2025 budget at the committee level today.

“As long as we don’t make them pay, they will wash their hands of the issue. One bully might be imprisoned, but the others will continue to act with impunity. Enough is enough.”

Syed Saddiq’s remarks follow multiple reports of bullying among cadets undergoing military training at universities.

Notably, a 25-year-old reserve officer training unit cadet died on Nov 13 following a training session at a Universiti Teknologi Mara campus.

This comes on the heels of five cadet officers being expelled from the National Defence University (UPNM) and ordered to pay compensation to the government for their actions.

Two of the expelled seniors have pleaded not guilty to charges of assaulting a junior with a hot iron and stomping on another junior, resulting in fractures to his ribs and spine.

Syed Saddiq also called for an overhaul of those in charge, saying that similar incidents in other countries would lead to the leaders responsible being fired or investigated.

“It’s not enough to just take action against one or two bullies. We need to take drastic measures to ensure that no more lives are lost,” he said.

During his winding-up speech in the debate, deputy defence minister Adly Zahari welcomed Syed Saddiq’s suggestion for legal action.

“It is indeed a right (for parents to sue) and should be supported.”