Bullying, the blight of our society

Borneo Post

19 hours ago

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Several decades ago, back in my primary school days, I found myself staring down the ugly face of bullying. I was unaware of the reasons then, perhaps I simply looked like an easy target. But there was one certainty; I was not the kind to suffer in silence. As a good student and a teacher's favourite, I took the bold step of reporting the matter. My teacher wasted no time; swift justice was served, and the bullies quickly learned their lesson.
Back then, teachers were still permitted to cane students, a practice now considered abusive. I even witnessed public caning during school assemblies, where naughty students, including bullies, were punished before the entire student body. The discipline teacher held nothing back; his strokes left visible marks on the offenders. Discipline in those days was far stricter and more severe. Today, however, some students seem 'untouchable,' and teachers often hesitate to discipline them for fear of backlash from parents or even legal action.
Bullying, whether in schools, universities or workplaces, has always been a social ill. But in recent years, it has become disturbingly rampant, with high-profile cases shaking the public's conscience. The names Zulfarhan and Zara now stand as tragic reminders of how bullying can escalate to irreversible consequences.
The human cost is devastating. In May 2017, 20-year-old naval cadet Zulfarhan Osman Zulkarnain at the Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia (UPNM) was subjected to horrific torture by his peers, who accused him of stealing a laptop. Over several days, they pressed a steam iron against his body repeatedly, causing deep burns and internal injuries. Despite his deteriorating condition, he was denied medical help. On 1 June 2017, Zulfarhan succumbed to his injuries at the Serdang Hospital.
Following his death, the police arrested 36 individuals for questioning, eventually charging six cadets with murder under Section 302 of the Penal Code, which carried a mandatory death sentence at the time.
Another set of individuals faced charges for causing grievous hurt. The case drew nationwide outrage, not only because of the brutality but also because the perpetrators were fellow students at a military institution, an environment expected to uphold discipline and camaraderie.
The trial revealed chilling details: Zulfarhan had been tied up, beaten and burned with the iron more than 30 times, mostly on his chest, arms and legs. Witness testimonies painted a picture of sustained abuse over multiple sessions, punctuated by threats and taunts. Initially, the High Court found the six principal accused guilty of culpable homicide not amounting to murder and sentenced them to 18 years in prison. The prosecution appealed, and in 2021, the Court of Appeal upgraded the conviction to murder, imposing the death penalty.
However, in 2023, the Federal Court overturned the murder convictions, reducing them once again to culpable homicide. The court ruled that while the acts were undeniably cruel, there was insufficient evidence to prove intent to kill beyond reasonable doubt, a legal requirement for a murder conviction. As a result, the death sentences were commuted to 18 years' imprisonment each.
This decision ignited a storm of public debate. Many Malaysians felt the reduced sentence failed to match the gravity of the crime, especially given the prolonged nature of the torture. Others argued that the ruling reflected the court's duty to apply the law strictly to the evidence, even in emotionally charged cases.
Regardless of differing opinions, the outcome left a lingering question: does our justice system send a strong enough message that extreme bullying leading to death will never be tolerated?
In July 2025, another case sent shockwaves nationwide. Thirteen-year-old Zara Qairina Mahathir was found unconscious near the girls' dormitory of her school, SMKA Tun Mustapha, in Papar, Sabah. With severe injuries and broken limbs, she was placed on life support but tragically passed away the next day. While authorities initially treated the case as a fall, the presence of bruises on her body, reported by her mother, fuelled suspicions of bullying and possible foul play. A post-mortem was ordered after her exhumation, and the federal authorities vowed transparency, with Prime Minister Datuk Anwar Ibrahim asserting: 'Whoever is involved in a criminal act … will not be protected.' Sabah police remain open to bullying as a contributing factor, while civil society leaders are now calling for an Anti-Bullying Act to treat such incidents as criminal, not merely disciplinary.
More recently, a highly publicised case at a MARA Junior Science College (MRSM) in Melaka crystalised growing public tension around bullying. A video circulated showing students physically and verbally abusing a classmate in a dormitory. MARA responded swiftly with expulsions and invoked its 'zero-tolerance' stance. However, when parents threatened to sue, the incident ignited a heated debate: is harsh discipline necessary or should rehabilitation be prioritised?
These cases have reopened the conversation on whether Malaysia is doing enough to prevent such tragedies. According to data from the Ministry of Education, reported bullying cases jumped from 3,887 in 2022 to 5,891 in 2023. By October 2024, 5,703 more cases had already involved nearly 11,600 students. The numbers are alarming, not just for their size, but for the reality they represent: thousands of children and teenagers experiencing fear, humiliation and sometimes physical harm in places meant to nurture their growth.
I reached out to Datuk Dr Ramzah Dambul, Chief Executive Officer of the Institute for Development Studies Sabah, who has been vocal on the matter. He noted that these incidents of bullying are painful reminders of past tragedies like Zulfarhan's. They highlight an urgent need for real, practical change, not just sympathy or reactionary measures after a tragedy. Dr Ramzah emphasised that schools must establish clear and confidential reporting systems, have trained counsellors available, install CCTV in vulnerable areas such as dormitories and commit to transparent investigations for every report. Only with these measures, he argued, can we create learning environments that are truly safe, supportive and free from fear, where every student is heard, and none are left to suffer in silence.
The causes of bullying are complex, rooted in a mixture of individual, social and systemic factors. At an individual level, some bullies act out of insecurity, jealousy or a need to assert dominance. Socially, the normalisation of aggressive behaviour, whether in homes where violence is common or in media consumed by young people, can foster an environment where bullying is seen as acceptable. In schools, cliques and peer pressure can make it easier for bullying to spread, especially when others stay silent out of fear of becoming the next target.
Systemically, inadequate school policies, lack of enforcement and insufficient teacher training contribute to the problem. Some teachers are reluctant to act because they fear complaints from parents, while others may simply lack the skills to mediate conflicts effectively. In the workplace, hierarchical cultures, poor management and job insecurity can create fertile ground for adult bullying, where intimidation and verbal abuse can be used to maintain control.
Technology has added another dimension. Cyberbullying allows perpetrators to harass, humiliate and threaten victims beyond school or office walls, often anonymously. This constant accessibility means that victims can feel trapped, with no safe space to retreat to. Online humiliation can spread rapidly, leaving a permanent digital footprint. In extreme cases, online bullying campaigns have driven victims to self-harm or even suicide, echoing Dr Ramzah's point that bullied teens are nearly five times more likely to attempt suicide.
Dealing effectively with bullying requires a multi-pronged approach. For schools, prevention must be as important as punishment. This approach means incorporating anti-bullying education into the curriculum, fostering peer support networks and empowering bystanders to speak up. Teachers need specialised training to recognise early signs of bullying and to intervene appropriately. Importantly, discipline should be consistent and fair, sending a clear message that bullying in any form will be dealt with severely.
For workplaces, clear policies against harassment, confidential reporting channels and strong enforcement are essential. Human resource departments must take complaints seriously, ensuring victims are protected from retaliation. Leaders play a crucial role in setting the tone; when managers model respect and zero tolerance for abusive behaviour, it filters down through the organisation.
Society as a whole must reject the idea that bullying is a 'normal' part of growing up or a test of toughness. That outdated mindset enables abuse to persist. Parents should actively teach empathy, respect and conflict resolution from an early age, while also monitoring their children's online behaviour. Media campaigns can further raise awareness and reduce stigma around reporting bullying.
In reflecting on the strict discipline of past decades and the challenges of today, it is clear that while some old methods such as public caning may no longer be acceptable, the pendulum should never swing so far that authority figures feel powerless. There must be a balanced approach: firm enforcement of rules, coupled with education and support, to protect both the rights and the wellbeing of all students and workers.
Ultimately, the tragedies of Zulfarhan and Zara should never have happened. They should stand as turning points, spurring Malaysia to confront bullying with the seriousness it demands. Justice for victims is not only about court sentences; it is about creating a culture where such acts are unthinkable in the first place.
When I reflect on my own experience as a child, I realise the extent to which I was fortunate that adults stepped in and acted firmly. Today's victims deserve that same protection, without fear, without hesitation and without waiting for another tragedy to remind us of the stakes involved. Until we reach that point, we lack the basis to claim that our schools, universities and workplaces are truly the safe havens they are meant to be.
Footnote
Dr Richard A. Gontusan is a Human Resource Skills Training and Investment Consultant. He firmly believes that every case of bullying must be reported and addressed swiftly, severely, and fairly. His views expressed in this article are not necessarily the views of The Borneo Post
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