27/08/2025

WEDNESDAY | AUG 27, 2025

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‘Complaints portal not enough to solve bullying’

ETS3 line to be extended to Johor Bahru by year-end

Ű BY HARITH KAMAL newsdesk@thesundaily.com

PUTRAJAYA: The Electric Train Service 3 (ETS3) line will be extended to Johor Bahru with operations targeted to begin by December, said Transport Minister Anthony Loke. He said the extension’s infrastructure has been completed, with only signalling works pending. “We are committed to ensuring that the ETS line reaches Johor Bahru before year-end,” he said after the ministry’s monthly assembly yesterday. The announcement comes after the recent launch of the second phase of ETS3 services up to Kluang on Aug 30. It saw His Majesty Sultan Ibraim, King of Malaysia, symbolically pilot the first of 10 new ETS3 train sets from the old Kuala Lumpur station to Kluang. The final phase to Johor Bahru Sentral is now on track for completion by December. On the LRT3 project, Loke said although the ministry had initially targeted operations by the end of the third quarter, additional testing has caused a slight delay. The line had originally been scheduled to commence operations on Sept 30. “These projects have been in the works for a long time, and we hope they can finally be opened to the public before year-end.” Regarding the KLIA aerotrain, Loke said the ministry has directed Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) to closely monitor the system to prevent disruptions. “Since its relaunch on July 1, nearly two million passengers have used the service, underscoring its importance as a critical link between the main terminal and the satellite building. “Passenger traffic is heavy daily and any technical disruption will directly affect travellers.”

PETALING JAYA: A child friendly complaints portal, an initiative by the Parliamentary Special Select Committee, will not be enough by itself to shield children from being bullied, said CRIB Foundation co-chairman Srividhya Ganapathy. She urged lawmakers to move beyond digital fixes, and establish a single, nationwide anti-bullying policy covering all schools – government, residential, private, international and religious. “Right now, different schools fall under different ministries and agencies. So, policies are inconsistent. But bullying cuts across all types of schools. It should be treated with the same seriousness as fire safety or crime prevention, with one common standard.” o Lawmakers must go beyond digital fixes, establish single, nationwide anti-bullying policy covering all types of schools, says NGO Ű BY KIRTINEE RAMESH newsdesk@thesundaily.com

yearly safeguarding reports. She said the portal must trigger real-world action and be embedded within schools’ safeguarding systems. “An app is a tool, not a solution. What matters is who receives the reports, how quickly they act and whether children feel safe coming forward.” Beyond technology, CRIB’s blueprint recommends safeguarding and anti-bullying teams in every school and counsellors with manageable caseloads. She said cases involving physical harm must be treated as crimes under the law, not dismissed as “child’s play”. “At the same time, both victims and perpetrators, often children themselves, must have their identities protected under the Child Act, with restorative approaches used where possible.” Srividhya also cautioned against measuring success by portal usage alone. “A good system separates reporting from prevalence. If reports rise but repeat harm declines and response times improve, children are safer, not worse off.” She urged schools to adopt clear benchmarks –

Communications Deputy Minister Teo Nie Ching announced that the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission is developing a nationwide disaster alert system which has been proposed under Budget 2026. The project is intended to cover all types of disasters and emergencies. Universiti Teknologi Malaysia Disaster Preparedness and Prevention Centre senior research fellow Dr Khamarrul Azahari Razak described the rollout as “an urgent and critical step” to strengthen Malaysia’s early warning system. He said the project must be co-designed with government, the private sector, academia, NGOs and communities to ensure inclusivity and impact. He added that priority should be given to disasters that pose the greatest threat to human life. “National records show that landslides have acknowledgement within 24 hours, meeting within 48 hours, investigations within two school days and updates within five. She said progress should also be tracked through anonymous student surveys and annual public reports. She added that for the portal to be credible, cases must be logged securely in the Sistem Sahsiah Diri Murid , comply with the Personal Data Protection Act and include breach notifications within 72 hours. Srividhya said offline reporting channels must also be provided, with forms available in Bahasa Malaysia, English, Mandarin and Tamil, using plain language, large text and simple icons as well as have screen-reader compatibility.

Srividhya said many children do not have personal devices while others face language or ability barriers. “Phones are often confiscated by parents as punishment. That’s the reality.” Through its youth initiative, the Talisman Project, the CRIB Foundation found bullying to be widespread, with many students reporting at least one experience of being targeted. Some said they retaliated and were then branded bullies themselves. Srividhya said the most damaging type of bullying takes place online, where harmful

posts vanish quickly unless children know how to preserve evidence. CRIB has made three key requests to Parliament: 0 A single national safeguarding and anti bullying standard across all school systems; 0 Minimum, enforceable requirements such as trained safeguarding teams, qualified counsellors, clear reporting channels, secure records and firm response times; and 0 Funding and oversight, including a dedicated budget for counsellors and training, with schools required to publish

Loke at the Transport Ministry’s National Month Celebration yesterday. – ADAM AMIR HAMZAH/THESUN

Real-time disaster alerts via phones, game-changer: Experts PETALING JAYA: Malaysians can soon expect real-time disaster alerts on their phones, with experts saying the new nationwide warning system could be a game-changer. “Traditional media like radio and television, as well as community systems such as sirens, must continue to be used to ensure vulnerable groups are not left out.

caused higher numbers of fatalities compared with floods, which result in greater economic losses.” Khamarrul said Malaysia still faces gaps in disaster preparedness and called for stronger political will, evidence-based policymaking and public trust. “Accurate data, evidence and local knowledge are essential to improve our understanding of complex and emerging risks, especially in the face of climate change.” He emphasised disaster education to prevent “alert fatigue”. “Campaigns must be inclusive of children, the elderly, women and persons with disabilities, and integrated into schools, preparedness plans and regular drills to build public readiness.” Khamarrul said Malaysia must also invest in advanced technologies and cost-effective tools aligned with the National Disaster Risk Reduction Policy 2030. – By Kirtinee Ramesh

“MCMC must establish clear SOPs and robust verification systems to avoid false alarms, abuse or delays,” he said, citing Japan’s use of the technology during earthquakes as proof of its effectiveness. “When disaster strikes, the most effective defence is a community that is ready to act.” Concerns over disaster preparedness were heightened last Sunday when two earthquakes struck Johor within hours of each other. The Meteorological Department reported a 4.1-magnitude tremor in Segamat at 6.13am, followed by a 2.8-magnitude quake in Kluang around 9am. Tremors were felt in Johor, Negeri Sembilan, Malacca and southern Pahang, though no injuries or property damage were reported.

International Islamic University Malaysia Engineering Faculty associate professor Dr Yasir Mohd Mustafah said the cell broadcast-based system would transform the speed and accuracy of alerts during floods, landslides and other emergencies. “Unlike SMS, which faces delays and congestion, or app-based push notifications that need internet access, cell broadcast can instantly deliver alerts to all devices in a targeted area. Technically, it is the most preferred system for disaster alerts.” He said Malaysia’s wide 4G and 5G coverage, over 97% and 80% of populated areas respectively, would further boost efficiency though coverage gaps remain in rural and remote areas.