Tag - Bullying

Govt to table Anti-Bullying Bill on Dec 1

KUALA LUMPUR: The government will table its much-anticipated Anti-Bullying Bill in the Dewan Rakyat on Dec 1, after the draft law received Cabinet approval on Nov 21, says Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said. The Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) said lawmakers would receive a detailed briefing after the first reading, covering...

School complaint boxes ‘failing’, students left feeling exposed, town hall told

KUALA LUMPUR: School complaint boxes meant for anonymous reporting of bullying are failing, with students saying they feel exposed and unsafe, says Yeo Bee Yin. The Women, Children and Community Development Select Committee (WCCDSC) chair described criticism of the boxes as one of the most unexpected findings from Parliament’s first Children’s Town Hall. The committee had previously...

Pupil’s injuries not linked to bullying, but accident while playing, Sipitang school clarifies

KOTA KINABALU: SK Padang Berampah in Sipitang clarifies that a viral image showing an injured pupil was not related to bullying or a fight but was the result of an accident that happened while the child was playing. Headmaster Ag Ku Jaundin Ag Wahab said he took full responsibility over the incident, giving his assurance that...

PM’s Dept to hold dialogue with students on Anti-Bullying Tribunal Bill

KUALA LUMPUR: The Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) will hold a dialogue with about 200 primary and secondary school students on Oct 6 to gather their views on the Anti-Bullying Tribunal Bill currently being drafted by the government. Minister Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said (pic) said the session is crucial to obtain a clearer picture of...

Police will investigate if report is lodged over alleged IKBN Miri bullying video

KUALA LUMPUR: The police will open investigation papers if an official report is lodged regarding a viral video allegedly showing a Institut Kemahiran Belia Negara (IKBN) Miri student being subjected to physical bullying. Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Mohd Khalid Ismail said the authorities would take action if there were criminal elements in the incident. “If a...

No crowdfunding campaign by Zara’s family, say lawyers

KOTA KINABALU: There is no fundraising initiative by the family of the late Zara Qairina Mahathir to pay for legal fees, say lawyers representing the family on a pro bono basis. Hamid Ismail said the lawyers had learned that their clients' bank account details are being circulated on social media platforms, purportedly for donations to cover...

Bullying incident involving 20 female students in Sungai Udang school under probe

MELAKA: The Melaka government has voiced concern over an alleged bullying incident involving more than 20 Form Three female students at a secondary school in Sungai Udang here. State education, higher learning and religious affairs committee chairman Datuk Rahmad Mariman said the incident, which took place at the school’s dormitory in the early hours of Aug...

Identities of accused in Zara’s bullying case must also be protected, says Children’s Commissioner

PETALING JAYA: Social media platforms must ensure that the right to privacy is maintained in the Zara Qairina Mahathir case, says the Office of the Children's Commissioner (OCC). The OCC, which is under the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam), noted that five juveniles will be brought to court to face charges linked to the July...

Don’t politicise deaths of bullying victims, Anwar warns

PUTRAJAYA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has reminded all parties not to turn the death of any bullying victim into a political weapon. Anwar, who is also Finance Minister, said that using the death of a bullying victim for deception and incitement is a completely unacceptable act. "As for social media, we regulate it, but there...

Two schoolgirls charged after Form 1 student found bound and gagged in toilet

SUNGAI PETANI: Two 13-year-old girls have pleaded not guilty in the Magistrate's Court here to two charges of assault and wrongfully confining a schoolmate. The Form One students entered their plea after the joint charges were read before Magistrate Mohamad Azlan Basri. On the first charge, both accused are alleged to have voluntarily caused hurt to the...