SHAH ALAM, June 16 — Parents may be held liable or face action if their children are found guilty by the Anti-Bullying Tribunal, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said.
She said this is in line with the Anti-Bullying Act 2026 (Act 876) to ensure families bear responsibility for moral misconduct committed by their children, read a Berita Harian report.
Azalina explained that Act 876 differs from standard criminal law that places responsibility and liability solely on the perpetrator, saying it includes a responsibility clause where the bully’s family are bound to fines and other penalties.
“We are transferring liability, making it a joint liability for the family (of the offenders),” she said, as quoted by the local daily, in a press conference following the launch of the Anti-Bullying Tribunal today.
Azalina also launched the tribunal’s official website, where the public may report incidents of bullying.
Present at the launch were Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA) chairman Datuk Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki, Prime Minister’s Department Legal Affairs Division (BHEUU) director-general Datuk Zamri Misman, and Anti-Bullying Tribunal president Nurul Husna Awang.
The tribunal was established under Section 25 of Act 876 to handle, adjudicate and decide on bullying misconduct comprehensively, quickly, and effectively.
Azalina said the establishment of the tribunal reflects a continuous commitment to combat bullying, whether verbal, physical, social or cyber, which is escalating and threatening the community’s well-being.
She added that the tribunal is not limited to a physical office, but is available online, making it easier for victims, especially children, to lodge complaints.
The minister said victims or their families can file complaints with the tribunal without needing to first lodge a police report.
“This approach is important to increase public awareness about their rights and to facilitate access to the justice system, beside encouraging the public to use the service.
“I want to emphasise that, even though there is a physical office, we want to encourage the public, especially youngsters, to look at online registration on the Anti-Bullying Tribunal portal.”
Earlier, during a briefing, Husna said Section 43 of Act 876 provides for a maximum compensation of RM250,000 for victims.
She added that bullies are subject to other orders such as to apologise, remove online content, pay reasonable costs, compensation or damages, and attend counselling.
“Tribunal proceedings will also be conducted in private, either physically, online or in a hybrid format, with the entire process to be child-friendly,” Husna said.
