By : M. Hamzah Jamaludin

PEKAN, MALAYSIA: A 16-year-old from a broken home cried as he kissed the hands of teachers after apologising to a 15-year-old for scalding him with a hot iron at his school hostel recently.

The fourth former, known as "Kong" among schoolmates, also hugged Md Ribi Mohd Isa, 50, and his son, Mohd Azwan, who was injured in last Thursday's incident.

Kong also kissed the hands of officers from the state Education Department after a meeting at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Lepar yesterday to resolve the issue.

Teachers present also broke down on seeing the emotional scene unfolding before them.

District Education officer Yahya Zainal Abidin said both parties had agreed to settle the case amicably after an hour-long talk.

"It's now up to the victim whether to retract his police report as we cannot force him."

Yahya said Kong would be transferred to another school in Paloh Hinai where he would have to attend a special session with a counsellor.

"He comes from a broken home and we must find ways to change him into a better person."

Yahya said the department would also help bear Azwan's medical expenses and give special counselling to help him forget the traumatic experience.

In the incident last Thursday, Azwan was scalded with a hot iron by Kong for refusing to buy a pack of cigarettes.

--NST