‘Nothing to do with K-drama’: Malaysia agency on hiring ex-military personnel as college wardens
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- Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki dismissed social media comparisons to the Korean drama "Teach You A Lesson," saying the proposal to hire ex-military wardens was raised by various parties as early as 2023 — well before a 2025 pilot at two MRSM campuses
- Mara launched surprise inspections and a "You Touch, You Go" zero-tolerance anti-bullying policy after Asyraf began receiving complaints from parents and students in 2023
- Inspections found that bullying persisted partly because teachers were overburdened serving double duty as wardens alongside teaching, prompting the shift to dedicated full-time external wardens drawn from retired uniformed personnel
- 147 former military personnel attended physical interviews on June 15–16 at the Mara Food Technology Incubator in Kepong after passing two earlier stages of online screening
- Candidates underwent three assessment components — a BMI examination, a cardiovascular bleep test, and a face-to-face interview — with successful candidates expected to begin duties on July 1
- Asyraf defined the warden role as mentors and "students' second parents" focused on character, integrity, moral values and religious knowledge, not just discipline and safety
Why it matters: Starting July 1, a first batch of ex-military wardens will replace the overstretched teacher-warden model at two pilot MRSM campuses that Mara's own inspections flagged for chronic bullying — giving 147 vetted candidates civilian careers while testing whether uniformed discipline can be transplanted into a residential school setting. If the two-campus pilot works, Mara has a ready-made template and a 147-strong candidate pool to scale the program across its full MRSM network.
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