Malaysia Oversight

School admins to be briefed on bullying laws

By FMT in August 27, 2025 – Reading time 2 minute
We’ll meet stakeholders to clarify guidelines on bullying, says Fadhlina


buli-abuse
Six new offences were created under the Penal Code to deal with harassment through the use of threatening, abusive or insulting words or acts. (File pic)
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Special briefing sessions will be held at all state education offices to help school administrators better understand anti-bullying laws, said Azalina Othman Said.

The law and institutional reform minister said all principals, headmasters, counsellors and teachers would be required to attend the sessions, to be conducted by the legal affairs division of the Prime Minister’s Department starting next week.

“School administrators spend six to eight hours daily with children, so they must understand these laws.

“What is the point of having great laws if the public doesn’t even know they exist to protect them?” she said after attending an assembly of the Prime Minister’s Department (law and reform) today.

Earlier this month, Azalina urged ministries, agencies, organisations and institutions to ensure that employees are informed about the recent amendments to the laws on bullying, which make it a criminal offence.

Azalina also said her office would hold engagement sessions with stakeholders, including the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia’s Office of the Children’s Commissioner, regarding the need to enact an Anti-Bullying Act that emphasises the establishment of a tribunal to hear bullying cases involving students and children.

She said this was necessary as bullying offences involving individuals under 18 are also read together with the Child Act 2001.

There have been increased efforts to strengthen anti-bullying measures in schools follows the death of Form 1 student Zara Qairina Mahathir, who was allegedly bullied.

Zara died in hospital a day after she was found unconscious at 4am on July 16 after allegedly falling from the third floor of her school hostel in Papar, Sabah.



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