PRIME MINISTER Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has called for zero tolerance towards bullying in Malaysian schools, warning that a culture of arrogance, intimidation and humiliation must not be allowed to take root in educational institutions.
“Children, do not bully others or be arrogant. Imagine people like this becoming our future leaders — the country would be ruined,” Anwar said at the Temu Anwar session at the Tuanku Bainun Teachers Training Institute in Mengkuang, Bukit Mertajam today.
“That is why I am very firm. There is no place in our schools for accommodating arrogant people who bully others just because they are a little stronger. Do not compromise. Do not compromise.”
Anwar said teachers and lecturers must not tolerate bullying and had a responsibility to ensure such behaviour was not allowed to become entrenched in educational institutions.
He stressed that education was not merely about academic excellence, but must also cultivate good manners, moral character and humanity among students.
“Sometimes we read that there are 1,000 students in a school, but four are involved in serious bullying. The media reports about the four. It does not report about the other 996,” he said.
“So, it is not that I am unconcerned about those four people, but I want to say: do not bully. This is not our culture.”
Anwar said public concern over bullying cases should also be viewed in a wider perspective, stressing that the actions of a small number of students should not define an entire school.
He linked the fight against bullying to the broader values of independence and humanity, particularly in Malaysia’s multiracial, multicultural and multi-religious society.
“We are born with different skin colours, different races, different cultures and different religions. No religion teaches us to insult others,” he said.
Anwar said differences in beliefs and backgrounds should never become an excuse to humiliate others, and Malaysians must instead learn to understand and respect one another.
With the 69th Merdeka celebrations just days away, Anwar urged Malaysians to return to the original spirit of nationhood and fraternity that helped the country achieve independence peacefully.
Speaking later in the day at the Tuanku Bainun Teachers Training Institute, he said the struggle for nationhood had been founded on peaceful coexistence rather than racial or religious hostility.
“There was no putting down of other races nor was the weaponising of race or religion to win cheap political points. We stood in solidarity as Malaysians, coming together for the common good,” he said.
Anwar said the struggle for self-rule was built on tolerance and mutual respect, values Malaysians should continue to uphold.
“Without integrity and knowledge as well as new skills, a leader might end up advocating false news and knowledge and, to hide weaknesses, embark on a misleading mission to deceive the people,” he said. - August 28, 2026
