GEORGE TOWN: Penang recorded 804 bullying cases involving school students from 2024 to August this year, the state legislative assembly was told.
Mohamad Shukor Zakariah (PAS-Pulau Betong) said the figures, provided by the Penang Education Department, were worrying.
“These are not small numbers
"Central Seberang Perai district accounted for the highest number at 231 cases," he said on Monday (Nov 2).
Mohamad Shukor also cited 963 cyberbullying cases recorded between 2021 and 2025, and urged authorities to take online complaints seriously, particularly those involving threats.
“We need the police, the Education Ministry and the Penang Education Department to pay attention to complaints lodged online, especially those involving threatening elements.
“Over the past five years, 72 cases were recorded,” he said.
Mohamad Shukor also referred to several cases of students being killed that had occurred in the country this year, saying such incidents highlighted the need for greater attention to bullying and student safety.
Meanwhile, Phee Syn Tze (PH-Sungai Puyu) expressed shock over the 53,895 warning notices issued to Seberang Perai City Council (MBSP) cleaning contractors in 2025.
She said the figure was higher than the 35,528 notices issued up to Sept 30 this year, according to a written reply distributed to her at the state legislative assembly.
“I was quite surprised to see the figures, with 53,895 warning notices issued to MBSP cleaning contractors in 2025, compared with 35,528 notices up to Sept 30, 2026,” she said.
She added that 1,112 fines were imposed on Penang Island City Council (MBPP) cleaning contractors in 2025, while one fine was issued to an MBSP contractor.
“The question is, why is the number of warning notices still so high?
“Is it due to weaknesses in monitoring the contractors’ work, work quality that does not meet the required standards or contractors failing to comply with the agreed scope of services?” she said.
Phee said residents were more concerned about the cleanliness of their surroundings than the number of notices and fines issued.
“People do not want to know how many notices have been issued or how many fines have been imposed.
“They simply want to see their housing areas kept clean, drains free from blockages, rubbish collected according to schedule and their surroundings properly maintained,” she said.
She then urged local authorities to strengthen on-site monitoring, conduct surprise inspections and ensure appointed contractors fulfilled their responsibilities according to the agreed terms.
