Education Bill Must Be Implemented with Empathy, Taking Sabah’s Realities into Account : Bobbey

12 September 2025

KUALA LUMPUR: The implementation of the Education (Amendment) Bill 2025, which makes secondary education compulsory for all Malaysian children, must be carried out with empathy and sensitivity towards the socio-economic challenges faced by the people of Sabah, said Senator Datuk Bobbey Suan.

He stressed that although the amendment is progressive and bold, its execution should not be viewed solely through punitive measures against parents, but must be supported by comprehensive assistance.

“With Sabah’s absolute poverty rate still at 19.5 per cent in 2022 and the median household income at only RM5,745 compared to the national figure of RM7,352, compulsory education policies must be implemented with full empathy,” he said when debating the Bill in the Dewan Negara on Thursday.

Bobbey also raised concerns over school infrastructure in Sabah and Sarawak, pointing out that more than 1,000 dilapidated schools must be addressed urgently. He warned that the effectiveness of compulsory education would be undermined if students were forced to endure unsafe facilities or long travel distances to schools.

He further highlighted the struggles of low-income families coping with the rising cost of living. Citing data from the Department of Statistics Malaysia (2023), he noted that household spending on education in Sabah has risen by nearly 12 per cent annually.

“This Bill must be accompanied by additional incentives so that families are not forced to choose between sending their children to school or meeting their daily basic needs,” he said.

On student safety, Bobbey urged the Ministry of Education to incorporate stronger safeguards, referring to a UNICEF study in 2020 which revealed that more than 70 per cent of Malaysian students had experienced bullying. He called for reforms including the introduction of a School Anti-Bullying Act, the placement of licensed counsellors in every school, and the establishment of an independent complaints system that genuinely protects students.

While voicing full support for the noble objectives of the Education (Amendment) Bill 2025, Bobbey insisted that its implementation must be fair, inclusive and considerate of disadvantaged communities, particularly in rural areas.

“We must ensure that this policy reflects Sabah’s socio-economic realities, strengthens rural infrastructure, alleviates the cost of living burden, and prioritises student safety,” he said, urging lawmakers to scrutinise any amendments carefully to avoid penalising the vulnerable.