KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 29 — The Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) will hold a dialogue session with about 200 primary and secondary school students on October 6 to gather their views on the Anti-Bullying Tribunal Bill being drafted by the government.
Minister Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said said the session is crucial to obtain a clearer picture of students’ awareness of bullying, as they are the group most directly affected by the issue.
“If we look closely, their views are quite distinct, and they place high expectations on the system being developed, while recognising that bullying is a problem that must be addressed urgently.
“They also speak thoughtfully about awareness and pre-emptive strategies. I see this as a positive sign, as it shows young people understand the seriousness of the problem,” she told a press conference after launching the anti-bullying townhall session here today.
Elaborating on the dialogue session, Azalina said the first phase focuses on students under the age of 18, based on the advice of the Children’s Commissioner and non-governmental organisations (NGOs), while the second phase will involve higher education students in collaboration with the Higher Education Ministry.
Meanwhile, she said that when the Anti-Bullying Tribunal is established, all bullying complaints lodged online will remain confidential, while complainants will be protected by the tribunal when cases are brought to hearing.
Azalina added that the tribunal will cover cases outside school grounds, as bullying is not confined to education institutions.
