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THE issue of bullying in Malaysia, particularly among schoolchildren, will be formally debated in Parliament once the final report by the Parliamentary Special Select Committee on Women, Children and Community Development is tabled, Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat Tan Sri Dr Johari Abdul said on Tuesday.
The report, compiled following the “Hentikan Buli: Suara Rakyat, Tanggungjawab Kita” townhall series, is currently being prepared.
“I will first review the report before deciding on the date for the debate. God willing, if the committee completes it quickly — although I understand that some sessions will be held outside of Kuala Lumpur — we will schedule the debate accordingly,” Johari said after officiating the townhall session at Parliament.
Johari stressed that the debate is crucial for public transparency and to allow the government to act decisively on the findings and recommendations.
The townhall brought together a broad coalition, including MPs, Senators, Selangor State Assembly members, state EXCO representatives, NGOs and the Parents and Teachers Association (PIBG). It served as a platform to amplify the voices of victims, families, educators, mental health experts and civil society on the growing crisis of bullying in schools and beyond.
Johari warned that bullying must not be trivialised, emphasising its long-term psychological and emotional effects.
“Bullying can haunt victims for life. Some withdraw from school, while others, tragically, take their own lives,” he said, recounting personal experiences of ridicule during his school days and an incident involving a Malaysian student who fled her university in the US after being bullied in Montana.
He added: “Bullying exists beyond schools — in universities, workplaces, even within families. I’ve come across a case where a doctor was bullied by her husband. It shows how deeply embedded this problem is.”
The Speaker assured that the forthcoming report would not be shelved.
“I promise this report will not be locked in a drawer. It will be debated in the November session so the government can identify urgent solutions to combat this worsening problem,” he said.
The select committee is chaired by Yeo Bee Yin, Member of Parliament for Puchong, who called for a cultural shift from cruelty to compassion.
“We want children to grow up in a safer, more loving, and respectful society. This townhall is part of a bigger effort to shape policy with empathy,” she said.
Yeo noted that while 17 recommendations had already been presented to the government in August, more grassroots engagement is essential to develop a comprehensive anti-bullying framework.
“That’s why we’re holding this townhall — to hear more voices from parents, educators, civil society and local leaders in a transparent and open setting,” she said.
Yeo confirmed that all input from the session would be compiled and transformed into long-term policy recommendations, including legal reforms, intervention programmes, national awareness campaigns and school guidelines.
“This won’t be our last townhall. We will continue engaging with communities nationwide to ensure our proposals are thorough and impactful.”
A 2020 UNICEF report ranked Malaysia second in Asia for cyberbullying and sixth globally, with three in ten children affected. The committee says it intends to address both physical and digital bullying through holistic, people-driven solutions. - September 10, 2025
