Anti Bully Bill 2025 is long overdue with rising cases

The tabling of the long-overdue Anti-Bully Bill 2025 marks a crucial turning point for Malaysia. As bullying cases continue to climb year after year, and as recent tragedies expose the devastating consequences of unchecked violence among children, this Bill represents an urgent moral and national obligation. Without stronger legal safeguards and consistent enforcement, the numbers (including unreported and unknown cases) will only grow. Unfortunately, more innocent children may pay the price.

The offences outlined under the Anti-Bully Bill 2025, covering physical, verbal, social and cyberbullying, offer long-overdue legal clarity. Equally important are the penalties proposed: from public apologies and the removal of harmful online content to counselling orders and compensation of up to RM250,000. These measures send a clear message that bullying will not be tolerated. The Bill’s emphasis on mediation and restorative approaches ensures that accountability and rehabilitation remain balanced and meaningful.

Recent tragedies remind us of the real human cost behind the statistics. The death of 13-year-old Zara Qairina Mahathir shocked the nation and exposed the horrors of persistent bullying. Found unconscious outside her school dormitory on July 16, 2025, she died the next day. Five underage students have since been charged in connection with her death. Her case sparked national grief, public anger and renewed demands for decisive reform.

Also in July 2025, another Form 1 female student in Sungai Petani, Kedah, was found tied up in a school toilet. Two students were detained in connection with the incident.

Also in Sungai Petani, two Form 3 Students were placed on a good behaviour bond for assaulting a classmate, which led to a concussion.

In Johor, a 10-year-old cancer patient was allegedly bullied in school in a case that prompted an immediate probe by the Education Minister.

Another heartbreaking case occurred on Oct 1 2025. A Year 4 pupil in Senawang was discovered unconscious in a school toilet and later confirmed dead due to neck compression. Police have classified the case as bullying and harassment.

These tragedies are not isolated events. They are painful reminders that bullying can cost lives, inflict lifelong trauma, and shatter entire families.

The scale of the problem is alarming. Data from the Ministry of Education reveal 7,681 reported bullying cases in 2024, up from 6,528 in 2023 - a 17% leap. Of these, 5,689 involved secondary school students and 1,992 occurred in primary schools. A separate Ipsos Malaysia survey found that two-thirds of Malaysians or their family members experienced some form of bullying in the past year, with schools being the most common setting (65%), followed by workplaces, online spaces, domestic environments and public areas. Verbal harassment remains the most common form, while cyberbullying and social exclusion continue to rise.

The Anti-Bully Bill 2025 is a historic opportunity to redefine child protection in Malaysia. Acting firmly and decisively may not solve every single bullying case, but can contribute to lowering its numbers and instances leading to suicide or questionable deaths.

Datuk Wong You Fong

Wanita MCA National Chairperson