He said public schools were facing a trust deficit among parents as school grounds were now seen as unsafe.
“Schools are supposed to be the safest place after home, but now words like murder, rape and bullying are no longer foreign here,” he said when debating the 2026 budget in the Dewan Rakyat.
Syed Saddiq said a nationwide CCTV plan for schools would not be expensive, as each camera cost between RM50 and RM200, adding that even saving one life would make the cost worthwhile.
He also said it was time to “bankrupt the bully support system” by making wardens, principals and enforcement officers accountable when such incidents occur.
“If someone has been raped, bullied or killed, the school’s good name no longer matters. What matters is the safety and lives of our children,” he said.
Doris Sophia Brodi (GPS-Sri Aman) also said the current allocation of one counsellor for every 400 to 500 students was unsustainable, and that it should be one for every 200, including in rural schools.
She also suggested that the education ministry mandated teaching modules on empathy and good deeds, saying they could “save the students’ souls”.
“Our children need to learn to value human dignity, reject violence, respect differences and stand up for truth,” she said.
Doris said teachers and administrators should be trained to recognise the early signs of bullying and manage cases proactively, including via basic counselling.
Senseless cuts to agriculture funds
Separately, Syed Saddiq asked why the budget had steeply cut development expenditure for agriculture from RM3 billion last year to RM551 million, while RM600 million was being spent to refurbish Carcosa Seri Negara.
“For farmers and food, only RM551 million. But for one building, RM600 million. It makes no sense,” he said.
Syed Saddiq said the government must invest in modern farming and food security, not lavish renovations.
“We talk about drones and modern farming, but without money, how can we change?” he asked.
Khazanah Nasional has been tasked with spending RM600 million to restore Carcosa Seri Negara and several nearby heritage buildings in Kuala Lumpur, including blocks within the Sultan Abdul Samad complex.
The government said the project aims to preserve historical landmarks and promote urban renewal under the Warisan KL programme.