Fahmi: Board to standardise SOP, look into possible tribunal
PUTRAJAYA: The Cabinet has agreed to set up a Special Committee on Bullying to coordinate efforts across ministries and agencies in tackling the issue, says Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil.
He said the committee, which will hold its first meeting on Sept 2, will be chaired by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said.
Fahmi, who is also the government spokesperson, said the committee’s key focuses include reviewing standard operating procedures (SOP) for school dormitories and examining Azalina’s earlier proposal to establish a dedicated anti-bullying tribunal.
“We know that when an incident involves criminal elements, the court process can be lengthy. So, for certain cases, a tribunal process might be more suitable. This will be studied alongside other SOP.
“In general, this initiative aims to ensure that all ministries and agencies move in the same direction, with aligned efforts and shared objectives,” he told a press conference after the weekly Cabinet meeting yesterday.
Fahmi said the establishment of the committee was in line with recent amendments to the Penal Code and the Communications and Multimedia Act, Bernama reported.
“Previously, the Education Ministry announced a review of its SOP, and Mara, which oversees the Mara Junior Science College (MRSM), has expressed similar intentions. Through this special committee, all relevant ministries and agencies will be coordinated under one framework,” he said.
Fahmi also cited the implementation of new provisions under Sections 507C to 507G of the Penal Code, which came into effect in July, as a legislative milestone requiring SOP updates.
“We want to avoid inconsistent implementation across institutions. This committee is crucial to ensure uniformity nationwide,” he stressed.
The minister confirmed that representatives from the Attorney General’s Chambers will sit on the committee, which will span several ministries, including the Communications Ministry through the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission.
When asked whether retired police or military officers recently deployed to MRSM campuses would also be assigned to Education Ministry-run school dormitories, Fahmi said the matter would be further discussed by the committee.
“In my opinion, the initiative already in place poses no issue, and we hope it will yield positive outcomes,” he added.
Azalina had earlier announced that the government is considering a stand-alone Anti-Bullying Act, which would include provisions for a tribunal to hear cases involving students and minors.
Currently, bullying cases are addressed under various laws, including the Online Safety Act, the Anti-Sexual Harassment Act, labour laws, and several sections of the Penal Code.
