Kuala lumpur: The Royal Malaysia Police's (PDRM) character-building and discipline programme has been expanded to primary schools across Kuala Lumpur. The initiative aims to instil strong values and character in pupils from an early age.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur Education Department (JPNWPKL) director Megat Affandi Datuk Ismail stated that the programme, initially implemented in secondary schools, also aims to prevent pupils from engaging in social ills. The expansion follows the positive outcomes of the strategic collaboration between Kuala Lumpur police and JPNWPKL, including a decrease in disciplinary and criminal cases among secondary school students.

Megat Affandi highlighted that the cooperation between the police and schools over the past years has led to improved student attendance and a decline in crime and disciplinary issues. He noted that with the police's commitment to working alongside schools, student attendance in Kuala Lumpur has improved, and crime involving students has declined.

He shared these insights after launching the programme and a road safety awareness initiative at Sekolah Kebangsaan La Salle 2 Jinjang. Megat Affandi also remarked that bullying cases in schools have decreased due to the active involvement of Kuala Lumpur police, including regular visits to school hostels.

The collaboration has contributed to improved academic performance, with Kuala Lumpur recording its best Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) results in a decade. Similarly, Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM) and Sijil Tinggi Agama Malaysia (STAM) achieved their best performances over the same period. Megat Affandi emphasized that educational success requires the collective support of various stakeholders, including law enforcement agencies.

He urged parents to monitor changes in their children's behaviour, particularly during adolescence, and to seek assistance from school counsellors if necessary. Regarding vaping, Megat Affandi mentioned that his department would continue conducting spot checks with the police and relevant agencies while engaging Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) to enhance enforcement.

JPNWPKL manages over 200 schools in Kuala Lumpur, with monitoring efforts focusing on socioeconomic factors and population density. School liaison officers are deployed to high-risk areas to support these efforts.