Penang police chief Khaw Kok Chin said the boys, eight who are still schooling and a school-leaver, were arrested separately around Butterworth yesterday.

“The investigating officer is recording the statements from them. Most probably, we will release them on police bail today because they are still students and underage,” he told reporters here today.

He added that both cases were being investigated under Sections 329 and 147 of the Penal Code.

A video had gone viral yesterday depicting two separate brawls in the same school.

‘No compromise on bullying’

The education ministry will not compromise on bullying cases in schools and will get the police involved, said deputy minister Lim Hui Ying.

“For the ministry, if this culture of gangsterism becomes more serious and difficult to curb, it is possible that we will seek help from Bukit Aman. All schools in the country should be free from (such) negative elements,” she said.

Lim also said the ministry will request police liaison officers to monitor and conduct patrols more frequently in schools, especially those with a record of bullying cases.