PUTRAJAYA: The highly anticipated Anti-Bullying Tribunal Bill can only be tabled in Parliament earliest by December, says Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said.
The Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) said this was due to Budget 2026, which is scheduled to be tabled in October, with debates to follow after.
She also said that this deadline was to provide relevant ministries enough time to hold engagement sessions with stakeholders before the next Parliament session begins in October.
“We are hoping that the Bill can then be quickly passed by the Dewan Rakyat and then Dewan Negara, before the Parliament session ends in December.
“The plan now is to then have the Bill gazetted and potentially come into effect by next year,” she during a press conference yesterday.
Among these engagement sessions are the Anti-Bullying Tribunal town halls that Azalina revealed will be held in all states over the course of this month.
The sessions will be chaired by Azalina, Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil and Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek.
The first town hall was held at the Prime Minister’s Legal Affairs Division Department yesterday.
“The objective of these town halls will be to gather as many opinions and responses from as many members of the public.
“We will then evaluate this input over the next few months to develop the Bill,” Azalina said.
She revealed that the government was also considering whether to allow the proposed tribunal to prosecute perpetrators of bullying who are 18 years old and older.
Azalina encouraged the public to give their suggestions for the Bill through https://petari.bheuu.gov.my.
“I would like to remind the public that there is no point venting their anger at the government without giving us constructive criticism or suggestions.
“We are a civilised nation, so let us settle this in a civilised manner,” she added.
On Sept 7, Azalina said the Anti-Bullying Tribunal Bill was expected to be presented in October, while Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi revealed on the same day that Azalina had been given six months to present the draft of the Bill to the Cabinet.
