A bill to set up a proposed anti-bullying tribunal is expected to be tabled in the Dewan Rakyat at its October meeting, according to law and institutional reform minister Azalina Othman Said.
She said her ministry is currently conducting roadshows and engagement sessions before presenting the matter to the Cabinet.
“With the agreement of several ministers directly and indirectly involved, such as the education minister, higher education minister, defence minister and communications minister, we hope to complete the roadshow in September.
“We aim for a Cabinet decision by the end of September or early October so that the bill can be brought to the Dewan Rakyat sitting in October,” she said.
Her remarks come in the wake of deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi setting a six-month deadline earlier today for Azalina to present a Cabinet paper on the drafting of the bill.
Azalina said the roadshows would allow the government to hear the public’s views on the proposed tribunal, as it was seen as capable of expediting case hearings compared with lengthy court processes.
“This tribunal has broader powers; it can examine all aspects and may also consider compensation elements such as fines.
“Possibly, punishment may not necessarily involve imprisonment but instead fines or mandatory courses so its scope is wider. The key importance of the tribunal, if approved by the government, is speed,” she said.
According to Azalina, a dedicated portal will also be launched to gather public feedback, in addition to engagement sessions with professional bodies such as the Office of the Children’s Commissioner, the Bar, international organisations and relevant experts.
The tribunal was not solely intended to punish, but also to provide space for rehabilitation for both victims and perpetrators through a restorative justice approach, she said.
“If we have a fast tribunal system, people will think twice before committing such acts because they know the process is swift. That is why in sexual harassment cases, I observed that under the Sexual Harassment Act, the tribunal system received very positive responses as people knew the process was fast,” she said.
