Suhakam: Tribunal alone won't solve bullying [WATCH]

KUALA LUMPUR: The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) has cautioned that while the government’s proposal for a dedicated child tribunal reflects the growing urgency to address bullying, new institutions alone may not solve the problem.

It said reforms must go deeper by embedding clear legal definitions of bullying, strengthening the Courts for Children, and building diversion pathways that recognise minors not only as offenders but often as victims of systemic failure.

Suhakam’s children commissioner Dr Zufar Yadi Brendan Abdullah, said a tribunal could risk becoming “too formalistic and adversarial”, potentially adding stress to children already facing trauma.

“Bullying is not a simple dispute between equals, but involves power imbalances, abuse and trauma. A tribunal may heighten stress for the children involved,” Zufar said in an interview on NST’s Beyond the Headlines.

He said the priority should be strengthening existing structures, including the Courts for Children under the Child Act, while embedding clear legal definitions of bullying into law.

Formal diversion policies that steer minors away from punitive legal proceedings are needed, he added, with the focus on rehabilitation, counselling and restorative justice.

“Children in conflict with the law are often victims of neglect or prior trauma. Without early detection, they may be inappropriately pushed into punitive systems instead of receiving the care they are entitled to,” he said.

Zufar noted that diversion must be legally recognised, supported by inter-agency cooperation and informed consent, and continuously audited to ensure accountability.

Among Suhakam’s recommendations are the establishment of a National Anti-Bullying Action Plan led by a central secretariat, the introduction of a child-friendly complaints portal accessible to children, parents and teachers, mandatory child protection policies in schools, and specialised training for wardens, teachers, prosecutors and judges.

He added that a monitoring mechanism, such as a national anti-bullying committee reporting annually to Cabinet or Parliament, was also needed.

“Bullying cannot be solved by one institution alone. It requires a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach,” he said.

The debate over a tribunal comes as Parliament recently weighed proposals for an Anti-Bullying Act, a national complaints portal and reforms in juvenile justice.

This push follows several high-profile cases, including the ongoing inquest into the death of 13-year-old Zara Qairina Mahathir.

© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd

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