JOHOR BARU: With cyberbullying cases on the rise, groups here are urging the government to ensure it is included in the soon-to-be-tabled Anti-Bullying Tribunal Bill.
National chairman of the Parents, Community and Private Sector Involvement (PIBKS) Datuk Yahya Jaafar said that while there are existing laws, including those recently amended to curb cyberbullying, a tribunal offers a faster and more effective way to resolve such cases.
“There have been many efforts taken by the government to address cyberbullying in the past few years, but ultimately, they all remain bogged down by lengthy processes and limited accessibility,” he said.
“However, with the tribunal, such cases can be addressed faster without burdening those involved, especially the victims.
“In a way, it provides the complainant with an alternative.
“They could still have the perpetrators charged in court under existing Acts, but there is another option available for them if they choose to opt for it.”
He added that including cyberbullying in the Bill is more important now than ever due to the rapid development of the digital space, including artificial intelligence.
“Information is moving very fast these days, and it has become too easy for perpetrators to spread false information.
“As such, we must be very serious about the issue now and not wait until it is too late.”
Echoing a similar opinion was Malaysian Education Concorde Organisation (Me’didik) chairman Mohd Ridhwan Othman, who said that it would serve as a stronger deterrent.
“It is easier to bully an individual online. All it takes is a click, and that is enough to cause extreme emotional distress to the victims.
“Hence, it is very important for us to have a mechanism in place to make people pause and think before making such reckless decisions,” he said, adding that he also supported those calling for the Bill to include those over 18 years old.
“We need to remember that adults are also vulnerable to and are capable of bullying, especially in cyberspace.
“If we were to have such a tribunal, we might as well have one that covers people of all ages,” he said, expressing his support for the initiative to create the tribunal.
According to a report by the United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef), Malaysia ranked second in Asia for cyberbullying among youths, behind China. The country ranked fifth globally.
On Sept 12, Law and Institutional Reform Minister Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said said the Anti-Bullying Tribunal Bill is expected to be tabled in Parliament in December.
She said that the relevant ministries would conduct engagement sessions with stakeholders nationwide before the next Parliament session begins in October, and the public could also give their suggestions via the Institutional Reform Map (PetaRI) portal at https://petari.bheuu.gov.my.
During a town hall session in Iskandar Puteri on Sept 20, Azalina said proposals to extend the age group in the Bill were among matters raised at Anti-Bullying Town Hall sessions and the PetaRI portal.
She said the majority wanted the Bill to have a broader scope, given that bullying cases are not only prevalent in primary and secondary schools but have also been reported in higher education institutions, as well as police and military colleges.
Azalina also said the Anti-Bullying Tribunal Bill is expected to serve as a deterrent for would-be perpetrators and reduce the number of such cases.
