The Legal Affairs Division, under the Prime Minister’s Department (BHEUU, JPM) had organised a special committee meeting on Efforts to Strengthen the Bullying Prevention Mechanism in Malaysia, chaired by Dato’ Sri Azalina Othman Said, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform).
The meeting took place at the Asian International Arbitration Centre (AIAC), Kuala Lumpur, and had gathered senior officials from various ministries, departments and related agencies including the Ministry of Higher Education, the Ministry of Education Malaysia, the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Ministry of Rural Development and Regions, the Ministry of National Unity, the Ministry of Communications, the Ministry of Women’s Development, Family and Society, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the Ministry of Health Malaysia, the Attorney General’s Department, the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM) and the Prime Minister’s Department.
In line with the decision of the Cabinet Meeting on 29th August 2025, the Government has agreed to implement a holistic and integrated approach in addressing the issue of bullying and has mandated Dato’ Sri Azalina to chair the Special Committee to address bullying issues, which serves as the main platform for coordinating actions among various related ministries and agencies.
This meeting has reviewed several key issues, including:
- Strengthening the existing legal framework by incorporating elements of rehabilitation and protection of children; not just focusing on punitive aspects.
- Examining the proposal to draft the Anti-Bullying Tribunal Bill as a quasi-judicial body to handle bullying cases, particularly involving students and children.
- Prioritising a rehabilitative approach for offenders who are still children or adolescents, in line with the principles under the Child Act 2001 [Act 611].
- A whole-of-government approach to ensure that bullying prevention efforts are implemented comprehensively in schools, institutions of higher learning, workplaces, local communities, and also in virtual spaces.
The issue of bullying is increasingly becoming a national challenge that has a profound impact on victims and society as a whole. In this regard, this meeting is an important first step in formulating a concrete and practical action plan to ensure Malaysia has a robust, fair, and effective bullying prevention mechanism.
BHEUU, JPM is committed to ensuring that every proposal developed through this meeting can be translated into realistic, inclusive, and forward-thinking actions. With close cooperation from all ministries, agencies, and stakeholders, BHEUU is confident that a safer, more harmonious environment free from bullying threats can be created, in line with the aspirations of Malaysia MADANI.
