THE proposed Anti-Bullying Tribunal Bill continues to divide opinion, with experts at odds over whether its jurisdiction should be limited to children or extended to adults as well.
Dr Farah Nini Dusuki, the Children's Commissioner at the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam), maintains that the legislation should prioritise those under 18, whom she described as "the most vulnerable to abuse."
Citing data from the Ministry of Education, she noted that bullying cases in primary schools rose by 79 per cent between 2023 and 2024, reinforcing the urgent need for the Bill to clearly define the roles and responsibilities of schools in tackling the issue.
“Dealing with an issue as complex and damaging as bullying requires a whole-of-society approach, involving teachers, parents, children, government agencies, civil society organisations and the private sector, with everyone taking responsibility,” said Dr Farah.
“When it comes to children, both victims and perpetrators must be treated with care, with both groups requiring counselling and support,” she told the New Straits Times.
However, criminologist and senior lecturer at the Enforcement, Leadership & Management University, Shankar Durairaja, argued that while a focus on children is necessary, excluding adults from the scope may limit the Bill’s long-term impact.
“Criminological theories show that once harmful behavioural patterns are normalised or left unaddressed in the early stages, they can persist into adulthood, leading to more serious criminal or antisocial behaviour. Extending the law could help break this cycle by holding offenders accountable across all age groups,” he said.
Shankar explained that while child bullying typically requires rehabilitative interventions such as education, mediation, psychological support and behavioural correction, bullying among adults may demand more formal legal or disciplinary action.
“If both groups are handled under a single tribunal, there is a risk that the tailored measures each requires will be diluted. A child-focused tribunal, with an emphasis on restorative justice and prevention in schools, should be the priority,” he said.
Nevertheless, he warned that excluding adults entirely could leave a gap in protections.
“Restricting the Bill solely to minors could overlook the very real harm bullying causes to adults, while applying it too broadly without clear distinctions risks overburdening the tribunal and undermining its effectiveness,” Shankar added. - September 20, 2025
