A Perikatan Nasional MP has suggested that movies depicting bullying may be fuelling similar behaviour in schools.
Rosol Wahid (PN-Hulu Terengganu) urged parents and the wider community to play a role in addressing bullying, stressing that the responsibility should not rest solely on schools.
“In my view, films shown in cinemas or on platforms like Netflix also contribute (to normalising bullying).
“Shows that revolve around bullying and ragging in hostels can, to some extent, influence our children,” he told the Dewan Rakyat when debating the parliamentary select committee on women, children, and community development report on bullying in schools.
The bipartisan committee had recommended that all boarding schools be required to set up anti-bullying complaint boxes, among other measures.
It also urged the education ministry to ensure that all schools comply with the guidelines on bullying misconduct, and establish a special anti-bullying committee to monitor enforcement.
Separately, Rosol proposed the reintroduction of caning in schools as an educational and preventive measure against bullying, adding however that it must not cause injury.
