The Government is looking into introducing a separate law to curb bullying among children and adults, with the Cabinet set to decide whether the proposed Anti-Bullying Bill should be split into two frameworks.
According to Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform), Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said, the bill may be divided into two parts, one for those under 18 and another for adults, to ensure a more suitable approach for each age group.
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“We’re exploring a semi-judicial mechanism”
BERNAMA quoted Azalina as saying that the bill would pave the way for the establishment of an Anti-Bullying Tribunal, which aims to provide an alternative channel for victims, especially those unhappy with how authorities, including schools, handle such cases.
“Many have asked whether we should have one law for everyone or separate ones for different age groups. The Cabinet will decide on this, and I’ll present both the pros and cons. The Technical Committee will also continue engagement sessions across the East Coast, as well as in Sabah and Sarawak, to fine-tune the draft bill,” she said.
Azalina Othman Said
She added that the proposal is being carefully reviewed, given its wide scope involving over 10,000 schools and 5.1 million students nationwide.
On the proposed tribunal, she said it would help speed up investigations, as it wouldn’t be tied to other criminal cases handled by the police.
She also said her team is exploring a semi-judicial mechanism, a specialised platform similar to a court that can operate more efficiently and privately through mediation or disciplinary action.
Cases will be reviewed separately to determine if they’re criminal offences
The Government is looking to introduce a clearer legal definition of bullying that covers physical, verbal, emotional, social, and cyber abuse. The goal is to make sure all forms of bullying are properly recognised and dealt with under the new law.
She explained that the Anti-Bullying Tribunal is meant to support, not replace, the systems already in place under the Education and Higher Education ministries. The bill will also extend protection to minors who aren’t in formal schooling, so every child under 18 can have fair access to justice.
For those aged 18 and above, cases will be reviewed differently to see if they still count as criminal offences. Azalina added that the Cabinet will go over all these details before making a final decision.
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