KUCHING: A strong, united effort involving civil servants, educational institutions, families, and local communities is crucial to curb the growing problem of bullying in Malaysia.
Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform), M. Kulasegaran, said this was among the main focuses of the Sarawak State Anti-Bullying Townhall Session 2025, which drew more than 800 civil servants in attendance.
He said that the session served as an open platform to discuss the real challenges surrounding bullying in workplaces, schools, and communities while also gathering grassroots policy recommendations to strengthen the state’s anti-bullying action plan.
“Parents play an extremely important role in anti-bullying education and must not be left out. We can set up various tribunals or impose punishments, but without parents’ involvement, our efforts will not achieve the desired impact.”
Kulasegaran said this in his speech at the session at ABM Sarawak, Level 1, Block C, CIDB Convention Centre Sarawak on Friday (Oct 17).
He added that an inclusive approach through open dialogue between parents and teachers could serve as an effective early step in addressing bullying issues.
Among the key highlights of the session were a presentation on “Strategies for Addressing Misconduct and Bullying in Educational Institutions and Hostels” by the Ministry of Education, as well as a panel discussion on challenges and solutions led by the Children’s Commissioner.
According to the Sarawak State Education Department, 86 bullying cases were recorded between January and August 2025 comprising 54 physical, 16 verbal, nine non-verbal, and seven cyberbullying incidents.
Meanwhile, a recent Ipsos Malaysia study titled “Bullying in Malaysia: Perceptions and Reactions to Bullying”, reported by The Malay Mail on Oct 14, revealed that 65 per cent of bullying cases occurred in schools, followed by 41 per cent in workplaces, 35 per cent online, 24 per cent in domestic settings, and 16 per cent in public areas.
In addition, data from the Student Personality Management System (SSDM) showed an upward trend in school bullying cases: 7,681 cases in 2024, up from 6,528 in 2023 and 3,883 in 2022.
As of Oct 14, the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) had also recorded 129 bullying cases since the enforcement of the Penal Code (Amendment) Act 2025 and the Criminal Procedure Code (Amendment) Act 2025.
He said that the session served as an open platform to discuss the real challenges surrounding bullying in workplaces, schools, and communities while also gathering grassroots policy recommendations to strengthen the state’s anti-bullying action plan.
“Parents play an extremely important role in anti-bullying education and must not be left out. We can set up various tribunals or impose punishments, but without parents’ involvement, our efforts will not achieve the desired impact.”
Kulasegaran said this in his speech at the session at ABM Sarawak, Level 1, Block C, CIDB Convention Centre Sarawak on Friday (Oct 17).
He added that an inclusive approach through open dialogue between parents and teachers could serve as an effective early step in addressing bullying issues.
Among the key highlights of the session were a presentation on “Strategies for Addressing Misconduct and Bullying in Educational Institutions and Hostels” by the Ministry of Education, as well as a panel discussion on challenges and solutions led by the Children’s Commissioner.
According to the Sarawak State Education Department, 86 bullying cases were recorded between January and August 2025 comprising 54 physical, 16 verbal, nine non-verbal, and seven cyberbullying incidents.
Meanwhile, a recent Ipsos Malaysia study titled “Bullying in Malaysia: Perceptions and Reactions to Bullying”, reported by The Malay Mail on Oct 14, revealed that 65 per cent of bullying cases occurred in schools, followed by 41 per cent in workplaces, 35 per cent online, 24 per cent in domestic settings, and 16 per cent in public areas.
In addition, data from the Student Personality Management System (SSDM) showed an upward trend in school bullying cases: 7,681 cases in 2024, up from 6,528 in 2023 and 3,883 in 2022.
As of Oct 14, the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) had also recorded 129 bullying cases since the enforcement of the Penal Code (Amendment) Act 2025 and the Criminal Procedure Code (Amendment) Act 2025.