KLANG, March 28 — Parents of children who attended the same school where an eight-year-old was forced to snip the tip of his tongue have heard of horrid tales involving bullies in the past.

They demand the authorities put an end to their fears, hoping their child would not return home as a victim.

A parent, who wishes to be known as Wani, 39, said the incident was disturbing as her son was a close friend of the victim.

“I have heard of several extortion cases from other parents but I was shocked when I found out about the snipping incident,” she said yesterday.

She feared these bullies will progress to more violent crimes later in life.

“I will not be at ease until the bullying incidents in the school stop,” Wani said.

Another parent, who wanted to be known only as Hasnah, 40, said there was no reason for any child to be bullied in school.

“My daughter has never been bullied before but it is worrying students at that age are already exhibiting similar traits of violent street gangsters. Teachers and parents must take full responsibility and curb this issue,” she said.

Hasnah pointed out the bullies in last Thursday’s incident wore masks.

“Why are they thinking about ways to conceal their faces when they should be paying attention to their school work?” she asked.

“I feel the bullies were trying to mimic something they had seen in videos.”

Balius, 29, whose nephew studies in the primary school, expressed disbelief over how such intimidation took place.

“Those who live here know some of the children are mischievous but these bullies were violent ... like thugs,” he said.

He said the “major issue” must be quickly tackled by school authorities.

“These bullies will be bolder if no stern action is taken against them. This will leave other students, including my nephew, vulnerable to threats.”

A parent, who ferries pupils to two schools in the area daily, said most students from the primary school were “mischievous” but felt there were other factors that encouraged bullies to exist in school.

She has heard pupils relating their bullying ordeals when sending them home.

“I heard teachers avoid confronting these naughty children as they do not want backlash from parents,” she said.

She said if teachers took action against a child, the child would complain to the parents, who would in turn confront the teacher.

“It’s a vicious cycle but there must be a solution.”