PUTRAJAYA, Sept 11 — Hundreds of people gathered around at Law and Institutional Reform Minister Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said’s led Anti-Bullying Tribunal roadshow today, as her ministry sought public feedback on a proposed Act to address the rise in bullying cases nationwide.
Parents, activists and community leaders gave input, many stressing that families must play a stronger role in prevention and in supporting schools if the law is to be effective.
Women’s Aid Organisation (WAO) representative Tamyra Selvarajan said parents should not be defensive if they discovered their child was a bully, but instead reflect on their role and engage in capacity-building programmes at schools.
“Empathy has to start at home. If parents find out their child is bullying others, they shouldn’t just deny it. They should get involved so that teachers and even bystanders know what to do when bullying happens,” she said.
From Putrajaya, a school Parent-Teacher Association (PIBG) member, Syafiq, proposed that parents be formally roped in to help monitor schools.
“When schools try to bring parents in, the timing often clashes with their work. What if there’s a system where at least once a year, every parent must serve a day at school?
“If a school has 600 pupils, that means parents can rotate daily to help teachers and principals keep watch,” he said.
Norsyirah, from the Malaysian Child Welfare Council, urged the government to restore civics education in schools while also exploring mandatory parental participation.
“We used to have civics and moral education, but now civics is gone. It would help build responsibility. In daycares, parents are already required by law to spend four hours a month at the centre, maybe something like this can be applied in schools too,” she said.
The tribunal roadshow, led by Azalina’s ministry, is part of a nationwide consultation to gather views before the proposed Anti-Bullying Tribunal Act is tabled in Parliament, which is expected in the October sitting.
After the townhall session, Azalina in her speech said she won’t respond to the suggestions immediately.
“I cannot respond just yet as it is too early. What we want to see are the voices from the ground, so this feedback channel is important,” she said in her brief speech.
She urged the public to provide more constructive suggestions through her ministry’s website, https://petari.bheuu.gov.my, or at the next sessions.
“Please submit your suggestions through the portal. We will evaluate them sincerely before I bring the matter to Cabinet. What is it that the people really want? At the end of the day, our children are a mirror image of ourselves,” she said.
“So please put your point of view in writing. Don’t just talk about it, write it down. What should be done? Should children be punished? Should it be the parents? The teachers? The schools? Or the government? Put it all in there, say what you want to say.
“But don’t just preach to others. We are a very civilised nation, and we should resolve this in a civilised way,” she added.
Prior to the townhall session, the ministry’s deputy director-general Thiyagu Ganesan presented the policy consideration proposal.
He said that the key proposals that are being considered are monitoring and reporting, tribunal jurisdiction, establishment of tribunal Institutions and matters related to this Act, prevention and awareness, complaint mechanism, governance and leadership, tribunal powers and remedies, child-friendly procedures.
