Malaysia Introduces New Anti-Bullying Law and Tribunal
L'essentiel
- Malaysia has enacted a new anti-bullying law and established a tribunal to address the issue, which affects thousands of students annually.
- The law introduces parental liability for minors convicted of bullying, a clause met with both welcome and caution from parent groups.
Résumé généré par IA
Pourquoi c'est important
Malaysia has one of the highest rates of bullying globally, affecting thousands of students. A new law aims to tackle this by introducing a dedicated tribunal and holding parents responsible for their children's actions.
Malaysia has one of the highest rates of bullying in the world which affected thousands of students last year, according to government figures.
To try and tackle the problem, a new anti-bullying law came into force this week.
A dedicated tribunal has also been launched which is made up of more than 50 specialists who will deal with cases too difficult for schools to handle.
While parents and education groups in Malaysia have largely welcomed the reform, they have urged caution over a clause that could hold parents responsible for their children's actions.
A provision in the law states that parents of minors who the tribunal convicts for bullying can now also be held liable for their children's actions and risk additional court procedures and fines.
"We welcome the Act because it places children's well-being at the centre and recognises that bullying has serious emotional, psychological and educational consequences," said Datin Noor Azimah Abdul Rahim of the Parent Action Group for Education in Malaysia.
"However, legal liability should be approached carefully.
"Not all parents have control over their children's actions, particularly in complex social and digital environments."
In one of the most high-profile cases in Malaysia, a 13-year-old girl died last year after falling from the third floor of her hostel at a religious boarding school in the eastern Sabah province.
Her death was blamed on bullying and sexual harassment, sparking national outrage.
Five teenage students later appeared in court on bullying charges.
"We hope [the tribunal] can act as a preventative factor because perpetrators know that their actions can be punished more severely," unionist Fouzi Singon said.
Earlier this month Malaysia banned millions of children under the age of 16 from having social media accounts, joining a growing global effort to tighten safety protections.
The government said the measures are aimed at protecting children from harmful content, cyberbullying and platform features designed to encourage excessive use.
A 2023 study by the Dutch-based International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement found that Malaysia had one of the highest rates of bullying among eighth-grade students globally.
An Ipsos poll last year found that some 260 of 400 Malaysian respondents, or 65 per cent, said they experienced bullying at school.
Questions ouvertes
- How will the tribunal handle complex cases?
- What are the specific fines for parents?
- What are the long-term impacts of the law?
