TEMERLOH, Oct 15 (Bernama) -- The Anti-Bullying Tribunal Bill (RUU) being drafted by the government will not only focus on school students under the Ministry of Education (MOE) but will also cover all educational institutions nationwide.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said said the tribunal’s jurisdiction will extend to private schools and educational institutions that have responsibility for children and adolescents under the age of 18.
“If they are under 18, the provisions will be aligned with the Child Act 2001. However, if the cases involve individuals above 18 years of age, they will fall under a different segment,” she told reporters after attending the Panag level Anti-Bullying Town Hall: #Generasitanpabuli here, today.
Meanwhile, she said the definition of bullying under the proposed tribunal will encompass various forms, including physical, emotional, mental, social, online, and verbal bullying.
“This definition is crucial to determine the types of cases that fall within the tribunal’s jurisdiction. The tribunal will not function like a criminal court that imposes punishment, but rather as a platform for recovery and rehabilitation for those involved.
“If it’s bullying, it must occur more than once. That’s the key, and it has to be continuous to be classified as bullying,” she said.
Azalina explained that the tribunal to be established will differ from the concept of a court, as it is designed to resolve cases more quickly, confidentially, and effectively without going through the conventional judicial process.
"Otherwise, perpetrators might take advantage of the situation, knowing that court cases can take a long time,” she added.
She said the bill is now in its final stages and is expected to be tabled to the Cabinet at the end of this month before being tabled for its first reading in Parliament this December.
-- BERNAMA
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