KUALA LUMPUR: Parents are liable for acts of bullying committed by their children as the Anti-Bullying Act 2026 introduces the concept of shared family responsibility, says Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said.
The Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) said the provision reflected the government’s broader approach to tackling bullying, viewing the crime as a behavioural issue requiring accountability beyond the young perpetrators.
“Under the Anti-Bullying Act, we have included clauses on responsibility.
“Issues involving the payment of fines and other penalties will also bind the family.
“We have transferred liability, or joint liability, to the family as well,” she told reporters after the launch of the Anti-Bullying Tribunal yesterday.
The Act, aimed at resolving bullying cases involving minors, came into force yesterday with the official launch of the Anti-Bullying Tribunal.
She also stressed that bullying, as defined under the Act, involves repeated conduct rather than a one-off incident.
“You must understand the definition of bullying in the Act. Bullying is more than one act. It means it is a continuous action,” she added.
Under the new framework, she said complaints should first be referred to the relevant authority with immediate responsibility, such as schools, which now have a statutory duty of care to address such cases.
The Anti-Bullying Tribunal, established under the Anti-Bullying Act 2026 (Act 876) and supported by the Anti-Bullying (Tribunal for Anti-Bullying) Regulations 2026, aims to provide a faster, more accessible and child- friendly avenue for victims of bullying to seek justice.
Azalina said the tribunal would give legal protection and swifter justice for more than nine million children in the country.
Its headquarters will operate from the Asian International Arbitration Centre (AIAC), but proceedings may be conducted nationwide, including at schools, Legal Aid Department offices and through online hearings, she added.
Azalina said the tribunal would be led by president Nurul Husna Awang and deputy president Dr Gan Chee Keong, supported by 56 tribunal members comprising experts in child welfare, mental health, law and related fields.
To further strengthen the tribunal, Azalina said the government wants schoolchildren to make use of the newly-launched online complaints portal https://tab.bheuu.gov.my/ to ensure victims have direct access to justice when bullying cases are not adequately resolved.
She said her ministry would work closely with Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara) and the Education Ministry to conduct more online engagement sessions and outreach programmes to familiarise students with the mechanism.
“We have recorded 14,000 bullying cases,” she said.
After the event, tribunal president Nurul Husna explained to reporters that individuals found liable by the Anti-Bullying Tribunal who fail to comply with its orders could face criminal penalties, including imprisonment.
“If there is non-compliance, there are provisions under Section 44 that impose penalties, including imprisonment,” she said.
Under Section 44 of the Act, a person who fails to comply with a tribunal award within 30 days may, upon conviction, be fined or jailed for up to two years, or both.
Where compensation or damages have been ordered, the fine may amount to twice the value of the compensation awarded.
“For imprisonment to take place, the complainant must first lodge a police report regarding the non-compliance.
“From there, the Attorney General’s Chambers will take over because imprisonment must go through the normal court process,” Nurul Husna added.
