WHAT CAN BE DONE?
Experts say there is a need to move beyond blame to solutions, adding that the rights of children who are involved in bullying must also be upheld and that their actions be addressed through guidance and due process.
Andrew Mohanraj, the president of the Malaysian Mental Health Association, said that while a law or tribunal is necessary, there is concurrently a need to focus on a prevention-first approach that strengthens schools, parenting and focuses on digital safety.
He said that Japan, for instance, has a national Anti-Bullying Act that mandates every school to have anti-bullying policies, while Finland gives equal importance to prevention programmes in schools.
“Malaysia can adopt a combination of these approaches to suit our situation, needs and capacity. The time is now since you get students who are affected and online spaces have intensified risks,” said Mohanraj.
Last week, the Malaysian government announced that it has set up a special committee on bullying chaired by Azalina – the de facto law minister – to coordinate efforts across ministries.
Local media reported on Tuesday that the committee has met and reviewed a proposal to draft an Anti-Bullying Tribunal Bill on establishing a quasi-judicial body in Malaysia to handle such cases, in particular those that involve students and children.
Azalina’s office said the meeting had focused on matters that include strengthening the existing legal framework by incorporating elements of rehabilitation and child protection, rather than focusing solely on punitive measures, as reported by the New Straits Times.
State news agency Bernama also reported on Wednesday that the Legal Affairs Division of the Prime Minister’s Office headed by Azalina will be conducting a series of roadshows to gather public feedback on the proposed tribunal.
Meanwhile, Rizan said there is a need for a “holistic” approach where the school ecosystem is safe with “zero tolerance” against bullies. He said while a special tribunal could be a crucial instrument to provide swift justice for victims, they could not solely rely on the law.
He said that in Finland and Norway for instance, character education and emotional literacy are already implemented from a young age, with children taught to recognise emotions, manage anger, empathise, and respect others.
“Prevention, character education, and psychosocial support are equally important. The law provides enforcement, but education builds long-term change,” he said.
As for discipline teacher Farhana, she said that there are no easy fixes to solve the bullying issue as a whole and she could only hope that any complaints are nipped in the bud as early as possible.
“Most of the cases we see aren’t as severe as what’s in the news, but we know that if you don’t take a complaint seriously, it can escalate into something much bigger,” she warned.
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/malaysia-school-bullying-cases-uptick-zara-qairina-sultan-ibrahim-5329166
