Latest news with #WanAzlianaWanAdnan
The Sun
21 hours ago
- Politics
- The Sun
Govt urged to take concrete action against bullying
PETALING JAYA: An NGO is calling for the government to take proactive measures to address the issue of bullying and enact an anti-bullying law. Gerakan Gubal Akta Anti-Buli (GAB) chairman Wan Azliana Wan Adnan said: 'We sent a memorandum and a report about bullying back in 2022 and we were called by the Education Ministry to discuss the issue. We also had an MoU with universities but because of a lack of funding, all our efforts had to stop.' Wan Azliana said this is why GAB is urging the government to introduce an anti-bullying law. 'The government needs to take action now before more bullying cases happen.' She said according to Education Ministry statistics, bullying cases in schools continue to show an upward trend each year. In 2022, a total of 7,360 bullying cases were reported among secondary school students. This number increased by 20% to 8,820 cases in 2023 and as of October 2024, 5,703 cases were recorded, involving 11,594 students. The reported cases involved either physical bullying such as pushing or hitting, and threatening or verbal bullying, which includes insults, use of abusive language and mocking in front of peers. Wan Azliana said the phenomenon of cyberbullying has also become increasingly complex and difficult to control as students use social media platforms such as WhatsApp, Instagram and TikTok to spread hate messages, embarrassing images or videos of bullying incidents. A 2023 study by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission revealed that one in three secondary school students had experienced cyberbullying but more than half of them did not report the incidents due to fear of retaliation or a lack of trust in the school system. 'We urge the government to promptly enact an anti-bullying law as an umbrella law that covers all forms of bullying – physical, verbal, cyber, mental and any form of harassment. 'This Act must provide a clear definition of bullying and outline the rights and responsibilities of all parties involved, including institutional administrators, perpetrators and victims.' She said the Act's aim should not only be to educate and prevent bullying but also to ensure that justice is served, voices of the victims are heard and confidence in the legal system is strengthened. Wan Azliana also said GAB would be starting a petition drive to gather support from the public for the introduction of the Act.
The Star
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Star
Anti-bullying law urged
Experts call for stronger, clearer legislation to protect victims PETALING JAYA: It is time for the nation to have a dedicated anti-bullying law to address the issue comprehensively, says Gerakan Gubal Akta Anti Buli (GAB). GAB chairperson Wan Azliana Wan Adnan said that while there are current provisions to deal with bullying, there is no specific law that states bullying is a crime, nor is there a legal definition of bullying. She noted that the recent Federal Court case of 'Ahmad Ikhwan Ahmad Fauzi vs Mohd Fahimi Endut and others' was a good example where the courts found it difficult to clearly define what bullying is, owing to lack of a legal definition. 'A dedicated Anti-Bullying Act is necessary, just as Malaysia has enacted the Sexual Harassment Act, to ensure clear definitions, protections and penalties,' she said when contacted yesterday. She noted that several other countries have enacted specific anti-bullying laws to protect victims and tackle the issue effectively. 'Malaysia should do the same. This will make it clear, in law, that bullying is a crime and will not be tolerated,' she added. She said the anti-bullying law should encompass all forms of bullying, physical, mental, including online, regardless of whether the victims are children or adults. Wan Azliana, a lawyer and anti-bullying advocate, said GAB has been pushing for such a law since 2022. 'We even submitted a memorandum and suggestions to the former Law Minister as well as the Education Ministry,' she said. Malaysian Bar president Mohamad Ezri Abdul Wahab said that while a dedicated anti-bullying law will offer a more comprehensive solution to the problem, it would take some time for the law to be drafted and passed by Parliament. 'In the meantime, existing laws must be strengthened and enforced without delay to protect current victims,' he said. He added that if such a law is to be enacted, it must be comprehensive with an enforceable legal framework that sets clear definitions, procedures and accountability for all institutions. 'Whether this is achieved through a dedicated anti-bullying law or through substantial amendments to existing laws, the focus must be on real protection and decisive action, not just provisions on paper,' he said. Human Rights Commission of Malaysia children's commissioner Dr Farah Nini Dusuki said that there are enough laws to cover bullying. 'We have dedicated sections in the Penal Code for criminal law and a 2024 Federal Court decision that places the burden on the school and teachers when bullying takes place among students,' she said. She also noted that Article 19 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child also places a duty on state parties to prevent violence against children, which includes peer-to-peer violence. 'It is now time to fully enforce the SOP on prevention and management of bullying and to strengthen portals and mechanisms to ensure victims have outlets that are responsive to complaints.' Dr Farah said that while having laws is good, education and awareness among parents and children are equally important. 'Children must be taught and shown kindness while adults must exemplify this,' she said, adding that parents should not leave the responsibility to teachers alone, especially when sending kids to boarding schools. She also suggested that every school must have a clear Child Protection Policy, and parents and the school management must sign an AkuJanji document to pledge to prioritise children's safety.
The Star
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Star
Transparency and swift action key for anti-bully portal
PETALING JAYA: A mobile-friendly and easy-to-use interface are among the features that the Education Ministry can include in its revamped Bullying Complaints Portal, say experts. Although they are cautiously optimistic about the ministry's decision to revamp the portal, the experts emphasise that for it to be effective, it must be followed through with actual investigations on complaints. Anti-bullying advocate Wan Azliana Wan Adnan said a complaints portal alone cannot eradicate bullying. 'It must work hand in hand with education and accountability. Teachers and schools should be equipped with training to handle bullying reports with care and sensitivity,' she said. While the portal should be one of several avenues for lodging complaints, Azliana said what matters most is having clear procedures on how to handle and investigate each complaint. 'For the system to work, students must feel their reports will make a real difference. 'Most importantly, students must have confidence that speaking up will result in genuine action and that they'll be protected, whether reporting their own case or a friend's,' she added. She also called for a specific Anti-Bullying Act to be legislated to address this issue at its root. 'We need the Act, as every child deserves a safe learning environment, free from fear,' she said. Children rights group Be My Protector vice-chairman Prof Dr Isdawati Ismail advocated for a simple, mobile-friendly and visually easy-to-understand portal. 'It should allow for one-touch anonymous reporting without requiring unnecessary personal details that could discourage victims from coming forward. 'There should also be multiple language options and a 'quick exit' button,' she said, referring to a feature to hide the page immediately if someone approaches. She added that transparency of the portal was also essential and that it should have a clear, visible process showing how reports are handled and timelines for action. 'This not only holds schools accountable but also helps students and parents trust the system. Transparency reduces the fear that reports will be ignored or covered up, which too often keeps bullying in the shadows,' she said. Prof Dr Rahmattullah Khan, Council Member and Past-President of the Malaysian Psychological Association (Psima), said a child-friendly portal design would help ensure the victims feel safe when filing reports. 'The portal should also use age-appropriate language, clear icons, minimal text and by step-by-step guidance, with visual cues or animations,' he said. Although anonymity is important, he said this could open the possibility for abuse. 'From a psychological standpoint, anonymous reporting can lower barriers for victims and bystanders who fear retaliation, but it also comes with risks. 'Some may feel less responsible for the accuracy of their claims or a small number might use anonymity to make false or exaggerated reports,' he added. To mitigate this, he said the portal could include a verification step that educates students on the seriousness of false reporting.
