Ministries, agencies, organisations and institutions have been urged to update their internal procedures in line with recent amendments to the Penal Code on bullying and to ensure employees are regularly briefed on the changes.
The amendments, approved by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on Feb 25 and gazetted on March 7, introduce new Sections 507B to 507G, specifically targeting bullying in any form.
The offences covered include harassment, threats, bullying, insults and misuse of identity information, with heavier penalties if such actions lead to suicide attempts or suicide caused by provocation.
Those convicted of the offences face up to 10 years’ imprisonment, fines or both.
Law and institutional reform minister Azalina Othman Said also encouraged the public to seek clarification directly from the legal affairs division or the legal aid department, which offers free advisory services.
“The public must understand that ignorance of the law is not an excuse. Clear knowledge of one’s rights and responsibilities under the law is the first step towards building a safer, more ethical and humane society,” she said in a statement today.
Bullying and harassment, especially in workplaces, schools and online platforms, have long been underreported and inadequately addressed in Malaysia’s legal framework.
A widely publicised tragic case was the death by suicide of a 29-year-old social media influencer known as “Eesha” in July 2024 after enduring severe and coordinated cyber harassment, mostly on TikTok.
