An NGO has urged the government to draw up regulations similar to the Penal Code to tackle bullying in schools by clearly defining the different types of bullying and the punishment bullies would face.
The Child Rights Innovation and Betterment Foundation said the “Bullying Code” should be structured like the Penal Code and set out specific definitions of the types of bullying children could face in school.
It said schools can then refer to this code to determine what action should be taken in bullying cases.
“In Malaysia, different school types fall under different ministries and agencies. Policies are not uniform yet bullying is prevalent across all schools. As with fire safety or crime safety, the same policy and measures should apply nationwide.
“There should be one national standard for safeguarding students and addressing bullying across all school systems. In that national standard, there should be minimum, enforceable requirements,” it said in a statement.
The NGO said there should be both fair consequences for bullies as well as restorative practices aimed at stopping such behaviours, repairing harm, and supporting learning.
The group said this would be subject to the type and severity of the bullying case, based on the proposed Bullying Code, with students suspended or expelled only in serious or repeated cases.
It pointed out that bullying can be physical, verbal or even take place in the cyberspace, with each having varying degrees of impact on the victim. It maintained that “small actions can quickly lead to dire situations” and that any type of bullying is a serious offence.
“Bullying robs children of safety, dignity and the chance to learn. It silences voices, fractures trust and can follow a child for years.
“The fix is not a portal on its own, but people who act – trained adults, clear timelines and safe spaces in every school, backed by a single national standard so every child is protected the same way.”
This follows a spate of widely-publicised cases of bullying in schools, with the most prominent involving Form 1 student Zara Qairina Mahathir who died after allegedly falling from the third floor of her school’s hostel in Papar, Sabah, last month.
Home minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said the probe into Zara’s death uncovered clear elements of bullying, neglect and sexual harassment.
The education ministry has since announced it will review its SOPs on school safety and handling of disciplinary issues, including bullying, while its Aduan Buli portal will allow for anonymous reports to be filed.
