Malaysia mulls over anti-bullying law amid rise in cases, death of teen

There is currently no specific definition or penalties for bullying in the country's laws

- Hazlin Hassan Malaysia Correspondent and Harith Mustaffa

KUALA LUMPUR - Bullying in Malaysia has been rising at an alarming pace, with thousands of cases reported in schools and other educational institutions each year.

And while some victims can brush off or move past the unpleasant interactions, more often than is realised, young lives are scarred, and, in some instances, lost. In the last few years, at least seven high-profile incidents supposedly linked to bullying that resulted in injury or death have made headlines.

The recent death of 13-year-old Zara Qairina Mahathir in Sabah has brought the issue of bullying to the forefront like never before, unleashing grief and anger across the nation. Her death in July led to street protests in several cities, and an evening vigil in the capital, Kuala Lumpur.

Reports of bullying in Malaysia's learning institutions have risen sharply in recent years.

Professor Datuk Noor Aziah Mohd Awal, who served until June as children's commissioner under the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia, told The Sunday Times: "The increase in the number of (bullying) cases needs to be looked at seriously. It also means that incidents of bullying are being reported and are no longer hidden or swept under the carpet."

The Education Ministry recorded 3,883 reported cases of bullying in primary and secondary schools in 2022. The number rose to 6,528 cases in 2023, then director-general Azman Adnan said in December 2024.

There were 6,208 bullying cases in schools between January and October 2024.

The tragic tale of Zara has revived calls for systemic reform, and prompted the government to consider an anti-bullying Act - a move some say is long overdue, while others question if legislation alone can fix what is, at its core, a cultural and institutional failure.

Zara died on July 17, a day after being found unconscious in a drain at her boarding school in Sabah after what looked like a fall.