Law and institutional reform minister Azalina Othman Said said the bill provides a clear and comprehensive legal definition of bullying that covers physical, verbal and online elements. (Bernama pic)
PETALING JAYA: The anti-bullying bill will be tabled for its first reading in the Dewan Rakyat on Dec 1, says law and institutional reform minister Azalina Othman Said.
She said the proposed law received Cabinet approval on Nov 21 after it was presented to the parliamentary select committee on women, children and community development on Nov 19.
“A detailed briefing will be given to MPs on the same day,” Bernama reported her as saying in a written parliamentary reply today.
Azalina was responding to Dr Kelvin Yii (PH-Bandar Kuching) on the government’s plans to introduce new legislation to address bullying.
Azalina said the drafting of the bill saw comprehensive engagements, including 12 town hall sessions in September and October involving between 300 and 400 participants. They comprised principals, teachers, parent-teacher associations, various agencies, pupils and tertiary students.
She said the bill provides a clear and comprehensive legal definition of bullying that covers physical, verbal and online elements.
Azalina said this standardised definition will provide educational institutions, enforcement agencies, parents and the community a consistent point of reference for prevention, enforcement and rehabilitation.
She said the bill would also grant educational institutions clear autonomy to use internal committees as the first line of prevention to detect, manage and report bullying cases in a structured and integrated manner.
“If a case cannot be resolved by the committee, the bill provides for the establishment of an anti-bullying tribunal mandated to offer remedies such as protection, counselling and rehabilitation through a non-adversarial, child-friendly process.
“This approach ensures that no victim is left without adequate protection and that the civil framework focusses on strengthening prevention mechanisms, victim protection and rehabilitation of perpetrators,” she said.
Azalina said the bill strengthens alternative means of dispute resolution and ensures parents play an essential role. Both victims and perpetrators will receive long-term support, she added.
