KUALA LUMPUR: Recent cases involving the death of students, particularly girls, should be examined for possible patterns of gender-based violence, says Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said (pic).
The Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) said some alleged perpetrators appeared to have been people known to the victims, including classmates or boyfriends.
“What worries me is that women are becoming victims of violence,” she said during a press conference at Parliament yesterday.
Azalina said violence linked to rejection, jealousy or a sense of entitlement could reflect a dangerous misogynistic attitude.
“I see a pattern. Perhaps I am wrong, but I see some kind of pattern,” she added.
She said greater awareness was needed among young people, particularly students, about healthy relationships and respecting boundaries.
“Being a strong boy does not mean being aggressive. It means being respectful. When you love someone, you should be kind,” she said.
Azalina also rejected calls for heavier punishment for offenders below 18 as the primary response to bullying and violence.
“I do not see punishment as the answer. Instead, we should turn to intervention,” she said, pointing to the Anti-Bullying Tribunal as an avenue for early intervention.
She said the tribunal could provide an alternative for students who felt their complaints had not been properly addressed by their schools.
“If you think the school does not want to deal with the issue, you can go directly to the tribunal,” she said.
Azalina stressed that bullying was not limited to physical acts, but could include emotional, psychological and other forms of harassment.
She said awareness of the tribunal was crucial because many young victims might be reluctant to approach the police or report incidents through conventional channels.
“The system is there. If you feel uncomfortable and feel that you are being harassed or bullied, even by friends, classmates, teachers or peers, report it,” she said.
Azalina said the tribunal was intended to emphasise rehabilitation rather than punishment, particularly because offenders below 18 were still developing emotionally and cognitively.
Her remarks came amid renewed concern over school safety following the death of a female Form Four student at a school in Yong Peng, Johor, on Oct 3.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said on Tuesday that 5,681 bullying cases had been reported nationwide between January and August, although the actual figure could be higher due to under-reporting.
