PUTRAJAYA, Aug 29 — The Cabinet has agreed to set up a Special Committee on Bullying to coordinate efforts across ministries and agencies in addressing bullying, said Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil.
The committee, which will hold its first meeting on September 2, will be chaired by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said.
Fahmi, who is also the Madani government spokesperson, said that among the key focuses of the committee are reviewing standard operating procedures (SOPs) for school dormitories and examining a proposal previously raised by Azalina to establish a dedicated anti-bullying tribunal.
“We know that when an incident involves criminal elements, the process of bringing it to court can be lengthy. So, for certain cases, a tribunal process might be more suitable.
"This matter will be looked into, along with other SOPs. In general, this initiative aims to ensure that all ministries and agencies move in the same direction, with aligned efforts and shared objectives,” he said during a press conference after the weekly Cabinet meeting today.
Fahmi added that the committee's establishment is in line with the recent amendments made to the Penal Code and the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.
“Previously, the Education Ministry (MOE) announced a review of SOPs, and Mara, which oversees the Mara Junior Science College (MRSM), has expressed similar intentions. Through this special committee, all relevant ministries and agencies will be coordinated under one framework,” he said.
The minister cited the implementation of new provisions under Sections 507C to 507G of the Penal Code, which took effect in July, as a legislative milestone that requires SOP updates.
“We want to avoid inconsistent implementation across institutions. This committee is crucial to ensure uniformity nationwide,” he said.
Fahmi also confirmed that representatives from the Attorney-General’s Chambers will sit on the committee, which will span several ministries, including the Communications Ministry, via the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC).
When asked whether retired police or military officers, who have been recently deployed to MRSM campuses, would also be assigned to MOE-run school dormitories, he said the matter would be discussed further within the committee.
“In my opinion, the initiative already in place poses no issue, and we hope it will yield positive outcomes,” Fahmi said.
Azalina previously announced that the government is considering the need for a standalone Anti-Bullying Act, which would include provisions for a tribunal to hear bullying cases involving students and minors.
Currently, bullying cases are handled under various laws, including the Online Safety Act 2024, the Anti-Sexual Harassment Act 2022, labour laws, and several sections of the Penal Code.
