Saadet Gokce

ISTANBUL

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim Friday said that the government is considering options, including a ban on smartphone usage for those under 16, to curb bullying and violent crimes involving students.

"We’ve seen how social media and online games can influence behavior, sometimes even leading to criminal acts," he said, adding that they will "move towards prohibiting the use of smartphones among students aged 16 and below," according to the Free Malaysia Today.

The Cabinet has proposed three immediate measures to address growing concerns over school safety.

"The proposal is still being studied, but many countries have already implemented similar measures," Anwar said.

Anwar also said that value-based and moral education should be strengthened and accountability must be upheld in the education institutions.

Small cases of bullying, "if ignored, will eventually lead to bigger ones," he said.

The planned measures come amid national worries over bullying among the student body of the nation. Zara Qairina Mahathir, allegedly a bullying victim, had died after falling from the third floor of her school dormitory in July. Her court case is still ongoing, with wide interest in the case.

In another case earlier this month, police arrested four high school students in southern Malacca state for gang raping a 15-year-old girl and recording the assault on a mobile phone in a classroom.

South Korea in August passed a law to ban the use of mobile phones and digital devices during classes in schools. 

In July, Australia, the first country to ban children under 16 from using social media platforms, expanded the ban to include YouTube.