CRIME AND BULLYING INCIDENTS IN SCHOOLS SPARK COMPREHENSIVE REFORMS

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 15 (Bernama) -- This year marks a major turning point for the country in addressing school safety issues following several heartbreaking incidents involving bullying and crime in educational institutions.

It initiated comprehensive reforms, including the drafting of the Anti-Bullying Bill 2025, which was passed by Parliament on Dec 3, in addition to implementing a 16-year age limit for social media use, to protect children and adolescents from inappropriate content, which is expected to begin next year.

The death of Zara Qairina Mahathir, a Form One student at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Agama (SMKA) Tun Datu Mustapha, Sabah, became the most shocking tragedy, sparking a wave of public reaction and concern across the country.

Zara Qairina died at Queen Elizabeth I Hospital on July 17 after being found unconscious in a drain near the school dormitory on the morning of July 16.

On Aug 20, five teenage girls were charged at the Kota Kinabalu Children's Court in Sabah with using abusive language against Zara Qairina under Section 507C(1) of the Penal Code.

The Attorney General's Chambers (AGC) also decided to conduct an inquest to determine the cause and reason for the student's death, with proceedings at the Coroner's Court still ongoing.

The country was also shocked by the incident of a 16-year-old female student who was stabbed to death by a 14-year-old male student at a school in Bandar Utama here on Oct 14.

Police believe the influence of social media and emotional drive were among the factors that caused the suspect to behave in such a way.

Meanwhile, being influenced by online games is suspected to be the cause of a six-year-old boy being seriously injured after being slashed by his nine-year-old brother in Batu Pahat, Johor on Oct 27.

A 10-year-old student was also found unconscious in his school toilet in Senawang, Negeri Sembilan, before being pronounced dead on Oct 1. An autopsy revealed the cause of death was pressure applied to his neck.

Besides serious criminal cases, several bullying incidents were also reported at Maktab Rendah Sains MARA (MRSM) in Penang, Melaka and Terengganu, with the perpetrators facing strict disciplinary action, including expulsion from school, after investigation by the disciplinary board.

The issue of bullying has received serious attention from the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar, King of Malaysia, who emphasised that if this negative culture is not curbed at the school level, it risks producing a generation that lacks respect and love for fellow human beings.

Following this, the government, through the Ministry of Communications, has implemented a comprehensive National Anti-Bullying Awareness Campaign across television, radio, social media, and digital platforms to combat bullying.

At the Ministry of Education (MOE) level, all state education directors and District Education Office (PPD) officers were instructed to conduct surprise visits to schools, in addition to approaching and understanding the lives of students in dormitories.

Additionally, the MOE is also improving safety features in schools, such as adding closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras and increasing the number of hostel wardens.

A total of 10,096 new teachers, including over 500 guidance and counselling teachers, have also been placed in schools nationwide starting last month (November) to enhance students' psychosocial well-being.

Statistics from the MOE’s Student Self-Personality System show that since 2019, an average of over 14,000 bullying cases have been reported annually in primary and secondary schools.

Data from the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) recorded 160 bullying cases, including physical and online bullying, between August and October this year, with 78 per cent of the victims being children aged 6 to 17.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said said the statistics confirm that schools are the main location for bullying incidents and children are the most exposed and vulnerable group.

-- BERNAMA