MIRI: Students who call in sick after staying up the whole night surfing the Internet are suffering from an ‘artificial’ sickness, said Assistant Minister of Social Development and Urbanisation Datuk Lee Kim Shin.
Obsession with the Internet is not only bad for their health, but could also affect their mental ability and weaken their overall body function over time, he warned.
“At the end of the day, who will suffer?” Lee asked.
“Nobody else but you and thereafter you refuse to go to school the next day as you feel unwell due to the created sickness,” he said.
In the long run, the sickness could worsen and lead to mental stress, he further warned, advising students to be smart and manage their time properly.
He advised them to allocate time for studying, play, co-curriculum and for the Internet, for instance, and in relation to this, urged parents to play their role to help their children manage their time.
The assistant minister was speaking at the Joggerthon and Charity Sales at SK Merbau, Bandar Baru Permyjaya, Tudan yesterday.
The event was organised by the school’s Parent-Teacher-Association (PTA) to raise fund for the school.
He later presented a cheque for RM5,000 from his minor rural project (MRP) grant to the school.
“Let me know if there’s a need for more grant; I will see to the request,” he promised.
Headmaster Wan Kassim Wan Taibu and PTA head Emillia William were among those present.