Suhakam: Bullying cases persist, despite outrage over Zara's death
Children's Commissioner Dr Farah Nini Dusuki said the situation has shown little sign of improvement since the tragic incident.
"Since Zara's case, which happened in the last week of July until now, we have had seven bad cases (of bullying). It's as if there was no effect after Zara's case. It's as if the children have not learned anything," she said.
Farah was speaking at a special briefing session for members of parliament on bullying, held by the Parliamentary Special Select Committee on Women, Children and Community Development today.
The session was delivered by the Childline Foundation, in collaboration with the Office of the Children's Commissioner (OCC) and Suhakam.
The commissioner said that the seven cases were only those reported in the media.
"That is just the seven that the media reported, not including the additional 10 that Suhakam has received reports on, and countless more that have been exposed on social media," she added.
Meanwhile, Childline Foundation's PH Wong said 5,700 bullying cases were recorded in 2024 and 5,981 cases in 2023.
She added that three out of four children have admitted to being involved in bullying, with most cases linked to social ridicule and sexual comments.
Victims of bullying, she warned, were four times more likely to attempt suicide.
Wong also shared insights from Childline's previous work on children's mental health.
"When we operated a child healthline from 2010 to 2015, consistently, every year, the highest number of calls were for psychosocial mental health.
"It's not children calling because they need to be rescued. They just need someone to listen to them, to talk about their worries and to tell them what to do," Wong said.
Zara Qairina was found unconscious at her school dormitory in Papar on July 16 and pronounced dead the following day at Queen Elizabeth Hospital.
Earlier today, five teenagers were charged under Section 507C(1) of the Penal Code for using insulting words against Zara Qairina.
The teens pleaded not guilty to the charge.
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Doctor's report on Zara's death was comprehensive
KUALA LUMPUR: The doctor who treated Zara Qairina Mahathir prepared a comprehensive medical report following her death, says Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail. Responding to questions on whether doctors had found signs of abuse or bruising related to bullying upon hospital admission, he said the priority at the time was to save her life. "The doctor's priority (at that moment in the hospital) was to save her life. At that point, who knew about the bullying? No one. The priority was to save her life first. "Only now do we know there were elements of bullying. At that time, would we check for evidence of bullying or focus on saving her life? The doctor chose to save her life, that is a fact. "Once the cause of death was identified as severe brain injury that prevented oxygen from reaching the brain, the medical report documented everything. Everything was done and properly recorded, there was no problem," he said in his winding-up speech on the 13th Malaysia Plan. He was asked by Halimah Ali (PN-Kapar) whether a full head-to-toe examination would have been conducted upon hospital admission and if there were any signs indicating abuse or bruising related to bullying. He added that the details would be clarified during the inquest. On Aug 3, Zara's mother Noraidah Lamatlodged a police report at the Sipitang police station regarding bruises she observed while washing Zara's body at Queen Elizabeth I Hospital in Kota Kinabalu on July 17. Zara was found unconscious on July 16, believed to have fallen from the third floor of a dormitory building. She was pronounced dead the following day at Queen Elizabeth I Hospital (HQE). Her grave was then exhumed for a post-mortem and an inquest. The Coroner's Court in Kota Kinabalu fixed 19 days for her inquest proceedings. Those hearing dates are Sept 3 and 4; Sept 8 to 12; Sept 17 to 19; and Sept 22 to 30.
New Straits Times
2 days ago
- New Straits Times
Suhakam: Bullying cases persist, despite outrage over Zara's death
KUALA LUMPUR: The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) has raised the alarm over the persistence of bullying cases, despite widespread attention following the recent death of 13-year-old Zara Qairina Mahathir. Children's Commissioner Dr Farah Nini Dusuki said the situation has shown little sign of improvement since the tragic incident. "Since Zara's case, which happened in the last week of July until now, we have had seven bad cases (of bullying). It's as if there was no effect after Zara's case. It's as if the children have not learned anything," she said. Farah was speaking at a special briefing session for members of parliament on bullying, held by the Parliamentary Special Select Committee on Women, Children and Community Development today. The session was delivered by the Childline Foundation, in collaboration with the Office of the Children's Commissioner (OCC) and Suhakam. The commissioner said that the seven cases were only those reported in the media. "That is just the seven that the media reported, not including the additional 10 that Suhakam has received reports on, and countless more that have been exposed on social media," she added. Meanwhile, Childline Foundation's PH Wong said 5,700 bullying cases were recorded in 2024 and 5,981 cases in 2023. She added that three out of four children have admitted to being involved in bullying, with most cases linked to social ridicule and sexual comments. Victims of bullying, she warned, were four times more likely to attempt suicide. Wong also shared insights from Childline's previous work on children's mental health. "When we operated a child healthline from 2010 to 2015, consistently, every year, the highest number of calls were for psychosocial mental health. "It's not children calling because they need to be rescued. They just need someone to listen to them, to talk about their worries and to tell them what to do," Wong said. Zara Qairina was found unconscious at her school dormitory in Papar on July 16 and pronounced dead the following day at Queen Elizabeth Hospital. Earlier today, five teenagers were charged under Section 507C(1) of the Penal Code for using insulting words against Zara Qairina. The teens pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Free Malaysia Today
2 days ago
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Taiping prison doctor accused of neglect over inmate's delayed treatment
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