KUALA LUMPUR (18 AUGUST 2025) – The Office of the Children’s Commissioner (OCC), Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM) emphasises that all forms of bullying are unacceptable and must be addressed immediately. Such behaviour violates the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), to which Malaysia has ratified and is punishable under Malaysian law, including the recent introduction of section 507B – 507G of the Penal Code. Every child is entitled to attend school and reside in a dormitory free from fear, harassment or violence.
The OCC suggests creating a nationwide, inclusive, one-stop Anti-Bullying Portal to manage reports of physical, cyber and institutional bullying. This portal should be child-friendly, multilingual and accessible to children with disabilities, featuring sign language videos, text and audio options. It should enable children to report anonymously to ensure their safety and to track the status of their reports. The platform should provide step-by-step guidance and direct links for emergencies, mental health issues, school problems and cyber incidents, connecting users to relevant authorities like Talian Kasih, MOE, MARA, PDRM, JKM and MCMC. Additionally, it should link directly to social media platforms for takedown requests. Offline methods such as SMS and complaint boxes at schools and institutions should also be available.
All schools and dormitories are required to have a formal Child Protection Policy signed by teachers, wardens and parents, designed with the children’s input. This policy should include anti-bullying clauses, clear reporting procedures, victim protection measures and mandatory training. Parents, the parents-teachers association (PTA) and schools must make a formal pledge to prevent bullying, attend parenting workshops and actively follow up on intervention plans for their children.
Teachers play a vital role in creating safe and inclusive learning environments. At present, the children’s rights syllabus at the Institutes of Teacher Education (IPG) is limited in scope, having been developed without consultation or input from the OCC. To ensure alignment with the CRC, the OCC proposes that the syllabus be reviewed by us and strengthened accordingly. Additionally, the OCC also notes that the human rights module jointly developed with IPG, which includes a chapter on children’s rights, is still optional and therefore, we strongly urge that this module be made mandatory for all trainee teachers at IPG and extended to in-service teachers nationwide to ensure that all educators are well equipped to protect, uphold and promote children’s rights.
The OCC further calls on the Government, the Ministry of Education, schools, teachers, parents and the community to take urgent action. Enforcement of laws, enhancement of reporting channels and safeguarding the privacy of children, regardless whether they are victims or alleged perpetrators, are essential. Bullying is not rooted in our culture; it is a violation of rights that must be eliminated.
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The Office of the Children’s Commissioner (OCC)
Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM)
Date: 18 August 2025
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