The issue of indiscipline in schools should not be politicised, Opposition Leader Fadzil Noor said today.

Fadzil said the increasing problem of indiscipline among students stemmed from the failure of the Barisan Nasional's educational policies and the poor example set by the country's leadership, rather than the influence of external factors, such as the reformasi movement.

"While students are taught to accept good values (in school), this is merely rhetorical as other parties, especially influential adults in society, set an unhealthy example which is followed by youths, including students," he said in a press statement.

Fadzil was responding to Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad's statement yesterday that he (Mahathir) believed students were starting fires in schools because they had been taught to resort to violence by people who participated in street demonstrations.

Mahathir had commented that young people were inclined to take the law into their own hands if they were "influenced" to violate the law by taking part in demonstrations.

"Dr Mahathir's statement that students are indisciplined as a result of external factors, such as the reformasi movement, is denigrating. In fact, students are influenced to commit unsavoury activities by observing our community leaders, especially politicians and those we usually associate with protecting the peace in society, in particular, the police," stated Fadzil.

"If a student punches another student, can it not be linked to the act of the former inspector-general of the police punching the former deputy prime minister or the act of a former chief minister punching an MAS employee at KLIA not too long ago?" he said.

Fadzil accused the prime minister of diverting the public's attention from the real problems afflicting the country's education system.

"Mahathir's diagnosis of the problem is wrong. As long as he stands by this diagnosis, the problem of gangsterism will not be resolved."

Meanwhile, Parti Rakyat Malaysia youth president Faizal Sanusi called for an in-depth study on the causes of increasing violence among students.

"We are worried about the state of gangsterism in schools today and an in-depth study needs to be carried out to determine what's wrong and to better understand the plight of students in schools," he told malaysiakini.

"Students need to be in a nurturing environment rather than a hostile environment. If the environment is hostile, they may resort to violence like this."

Faizal also questioned the propriety of the prime minister's statement attributing blame to the demonstrators before the police have completed investigations.

"This is a strong statement and should not have been made without substantiation. Everything bad is being blamed on demonstrators but the people who take part in demonstrations are taking part peacefully. This is our right," said Faizal.

"We should not be quick to blame anyone for anything before investigations are completed."