KUALA LUMPUR – The government has given Minister of Law and Institutional Reform Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said six months to draft a proposal for a new Anti-Bullying Tribunal Bill, amid rising concern over violence and harassment in schools and universities.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the proposal would be tabled before the Cabinet only after Azalina holds engagement sessions with stakeholders nationwide.
Parent-Teacher Associations (PTAs) across the country, including those in residential schools, MARA Junior Science Colleges, elite institutions such as the Royal Military College, and both public and private universities, are expected to be involved.
“The drafting of this bill is important to prevent bullying from continuing and affecting the minds of parents and students who are victims,” Zahid told reporters after officiating the Motivasi Desa (MODE)@KEMAS KKDW and Bakti MADANI@KPT programmes in Bagan Datuk, today.
The government’s move comes as bullying cases in schools and higher learning institutions have sparked public outrage in recent years, with critics demanding stronger protections for students and stricter accountability mechanisms for administrators.
Zahid, who is also Minister of Rural and Regional Development, said a uniformed body may be involved in the process to ensure impartiality and prevent disputes.
“In my opinion, the establishment of this tribunal should include all parties. We do not want any accusations that could tarnish the reputation of any institution in the country,” he said, Bernama reported.
Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Zambry Abd Kadir and MARA chairman Datuk Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki were also present at the event.
The bill, once drafted, is expected to provide a framework for handling bullying cases through a formal tribunal system. — September 7, 2025