16/08/2025

SATURDAY | AUG 16, 2025

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Govt urged to take concrete action against bullying

Minister: National Service Training mandatory PETALING JAYA: Participation at the National Service Training Programme 3.0 is mandatory and those who fail to attend without a reasonable excuse may face legal action, said Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin. He added that legal action is in line with the National Service Training Act 2003 (Act 628), and involves a fine of up to RM3,000, a jail term of not more than six months, or both. He said to address the issue of absenteeism, the ministry would carry out a number of strategic initiatives before proceeding with any legal action. “Firstly, we will deliver official attendance notices via registered mail, announce the trainee name lists through official media channels and social media and carry out active tracing efforts involving visits to their homes. “Secondly, deferments are limited to a maximum of two times, subject to valid reasons that are submitted and supported by relevant documentation. “Thirdly, if a trainee still fails to attend after the deferment period has ended, a counselling session with family members will be arranged as a final intervention to obtain feedback. “If all diplomatic approaches and support mechanisms fail, legal action will be strictly enforced in accordance with Act 628.” Mohamed Khaled said two series of National Service Training Programme 3.0 had begun in January and had shown positive progress with the participation of 560 trainees aged between 17 and 27. He said all ethnicities were involved in the training programme, including 370 Malays, 91 Chinese, 74 Indians and 25 from other ethnic groups. – By Mahadhir Monihuldin Seven-hour surgery for pupil after fall at school JOHOR BAHRU: A preschool pupil, believed to have fallen after being pushed by a friend at a school in the state on Monday, is receiving treatment at Sultanah Aminah Hospital after undergoing more than seven hours of surgery. She is reported to have suffered serious head injuries as a result of the fall. State Women, Family and Community Development Committee chairman Khairin-Nisa Ismail@Md On said the surgery was performed to relieve bleeding in the girl’s head, and she is now under close observation at the hospital. It is understood that the girl had accompanied her mother, a preschool teacher who was preparing for a birthday celebration at the school. The girl was reported to have fallen at the school assembly area at about 6.45pm. “While playing, the girl fell but seemed normal, with no visible injuries. She was later found unconscious at about 2am,” said Khairin-Nisa. The girl was rushed to Mersing Hospital before being referred to Sultanah Aminah Hospital, where examinations revealed fractures and bleeding in her head. Earlier, Khairin-Nisa visited the girl’s family at the hospital, accompanied by state Social Welfare Department director Ahmad Hashim Selamat and state Education Department director Mohd Hanafi Samad. – Bernama

2024, 5,703 cases were recorded, involving 11,594 students. The reported cases involved either physical bullying such as pushing or hitting, and threatening or verbal bullying, which includes insults, use of abusive language and mocking in front of peers. Wan Azliana said the phenomenon of cyberbullying has also become increasingly complex and difficult to control as students use social media platforms such as WhatsApp, Instagram and TikTok to spread hate messages, embarrassing images or videos of bullying incidents. A 2023 study by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission revealed that one in three secondary school students had experienced cyberbullying but more than half of them did not report the incidents due to fear of

retaliation or a lack of trust in the school system. “We urge the government to promptly enact an anti-bullying law as an umbrella law that covers all forms of bullying – physical, verbal, cyber, mental and any form of harassment. “This Act must provide a clear definition of bullying and outline the rights and responsibilities of all parties involved, including institutional administrators, perpetrators and victims.” She said the Act’s aim should not only be to educate and prevent bullying but also to ensure that justice is served, voices of the victims are heard and confidence in the legal system is strengthened. Wan Azliana also said GAB would be starting a petition drive to gather support from the public for the introduction of the Act.

o Urgent need to introduce specific legislation to protect vulnerable individuals and stem growing menace, says NGO

of a lack of funding, all our efforts had to stop.” Wan Azliana said this is why GAB is urging the government to introduce an anti-bullying law. “The government needs to take action now before more bullying cases happen.” She said according to Education Ministry statistics, bullying cases in schools continue to show an upward trend each year. In 2022, a total of 7,360 bullying cases were reported among secondary school students. This number increased by 20% to 8,820 cases in 2023 and as of October

PETALING JAYA: An NGO is calling for the government to take proactive measures to address the issue of bullying and enact an anti-bullying law. Gerakan Gubal Akta Anti-Buli (GAB) chairman Wan Azliana Wan Adnan said: “We sent a memorandum and a report about bullying back in 2022 and we were called by the Education Ministry to discuss the issue. We also had an MoU with universities but because Ű BY MAHADHIR MONIHULDIN newsdesk@thesundaily.com

Wan Azliana said cyberbullying has become increasingly complex and difficult to control. – ADAM AMIR HAMZAH/THESUN

Death of Form 1 student to be discussed in Parliament

KOTA KINABALU: Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail will bring up in Parliament on Monday the case regarding the death of Form One student Zara Qairina Mahathir. He said it is essential to clarify the issue as Dewan Rakyat members had widely raised the matter. Saifuddin Nasution was speaking after chairing meetings of the main committee for the Management of Foreigners in Sabah 2022 and the Sabah State Special Committee on

Citizenship Status on Thursday. Zara Qairina was confirmed dead at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Kota Kinabalu on July 17 after being admitted when found unconscious in a drain near the dormitory of SMKA Tun Datu Mustapha in Papar at 4am on July 16. On Wednesday, Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department director Datuk M. Kumar said the investigation into the death, previously classified as a sudden death, would now focus on

the responsibility of police in ensuring public order, safety and the protection of all citizens. “I leave it to the wisdom and swiftness of police to handle this, and I pray that his son and wife recover quickly from the trauma.” It was reported yesterday that the former economy minister’s son was dragged out of their family car by two individuals dressed in black, with full-face helmets, and stabbed with a syringe at a shopping mall in Putrajaya at about 2pm. – Bernama

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including bullying. The Attorney-General’s Chambers will also conduct an inquest into the student’s death after reviewing the investigation report submitted by police. Meanwhile, Saifuddin Nasution said police would make every effort to track down the perpetrator in the case involving Pandan MP Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli’s son. He said the matter is not about whose child is involved but about