PUTRAJAYA, 11 Sept — The number of bullying cases in schools under the supervision of the Ministry of Education (MOE) has shown a significant increase since 2022, with more than 70 per cent of them reported to occur in secondary schools every year.
Chief Commissioner for Children of the Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) Dr Farah Nini Dusuki said that in 2022, a total of 819 bullying cases occurred in primary schools, while 3,064 were recorded in secondary schools.
The figure increased to 1,110 cases in primary schools and 5,418 cases in secondary schools in 2023, while in 2024, a total of 1,992 cases were recorded in primary schools and 5,689 cases in secondary schools.
Describing the trend as “very worrying”, she said, there was a serious need to enact an anti-bullying act in the country to protect the safety of children in particular.
“In addition, we are also subject to Article 19 of the United Nations (UN) Convention on the Rights of the Child, which requires the government to protect children from all forms of physical or mental violence, neglect and abuse,” she said.
She said this during a town hall session on anti-bullying organised by the Legal Affairs Division of the Prime Minister’s Department here today.
According to Farah Nini, the formulation of an anti-bullying act is important, given that the country currently does not have a specific act related to it and only relies on school discipline and general laws.
“Comprehensive protection is needed, which is not just punishment, but also covers aspects of rehabilitation, counselling support and family intervention.
“Children are an investment in the country’s future, and we need to create a safer school environment for them,” she said.
Citing Japan and the Philippines, she said they have specific anti-bullying laws that have been in force since 2013, covering elements of bullying that cause physical pain and emotional suffering and that involve property damage.
Meanwhile, Deputy Director General (Law Reform) at the Legal Affairs Division in the Prime Minister’s Department, G. Thiyagu, said that existing laws and mechanisms to address bullying cases in the country include Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, which covers harmful online communications, and the Online Safety Act 2024, which is aimed at enhancing and promoting online safety.
However, Thiyagu said initial observations by the Legal Affairs Division found several legal gaps in addressing bullying issues, including the absence of a clear statutory definition of “bullying” and a predominantly criminal-oriented approach that focuses more on punishment rather than rehabilitation.
“The court process (if convicted) is also lengthy, technical, and not child-friendly. If the matter involves a civil case, the costs are also high,” he said.
Also present at the town hall session were Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said, Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil, Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek, and various stakeholders. — Bernama
