Proposal for anti-bullying tribunal to be presented to cabinet, says Prime Minister

PRIME MINISTER Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced today that the proposal to establish a tribunal addressing bullying cases involving students and children will be tabled at the next Cabinet meeting.

“The Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform), Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said, will bring the proposal to Cabinet,” he said after attending the Finance Ministry’s monthly assembly.

Also present at the event were Second Finance Minister Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan and Treasury Secretary-General Datuk Johan Mahmood Merican.

Datuk Seri Azalina had earlier indicated that the government is examining the need to enact an Anti-Bullying Act, which would place emphasis on setting up a dedicated tribunal to hear bullying cases involving young individuals.

“At present, there is no specific legal definition or clear punishment for bullying under any existing legislation,” she remarked.

“While the term ‘bullying’ is not explicitly mentioned in the Penal Code, I am somewhat reassured that we have amended and introduced Sections 507B to 507G of the Penal Code,” Azalina added during an event yesterday.

Separately, Prime Minister Anwar addressed concerns regarding the representation of Malays within government agencies, specifically the police force, following the recent appointment of former Johor police chief Datuk M. Kumar as director of Bukit Aman’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID).

“Look at the CID. It’s made up of 90 per cent Malays. The chief is Indian but I find no issue with it… if they are capable of leading and are qualified for the job then so be it, let them do the job,” he stated.

“The Inspector General of Police is still Malay, the deputy is still Malay… for me, that’s not an issue.”

Anwar acknowledged that racial discourse and attempts to foment division will persist in a multiracial country such as Malaysia but stressed that maintaining harmony and equality between communities is paramount.

“There should not be any tyranny by the majority or minority,” he added. - August 20, 2025