KUALA LUMPUR: The National Professors Council has urged the government to come up with a detailed and elaborate policy on bullying in order to nip the social ill at its bud.
The suggestion comes from a pre-congress workshop called Addressing Bullying in Schools and Higher Learning Institutions in Malaysia held today in conjunction with the Medicine and Forensic Science International Congress 2017.
Medicine and Health Science Cluster Head Tan Sri Professor Dr Mohd Amin Jalaluddin said a policy specifically detailing what constitutes bullying, the definition of bullying and the implications of bullying must be drawn up as a preventive measure.
“Prevention and early detection is crucial to deal with bullying in schools and higher learning institutions.
“To do this, we must have a clear policy on bullying. If we fail to do so, it would be no surprise for Malaysian youths to eventually be involved in acts of gangsterism.”
The workshop was attended by various stakeholders such as the Education Ministry, Health Ministry, police, forensic personnel, psychologists, physicians and legal practitioners.
A resolution will be formed from the workshop and transformed into a policy brief to be submitted by the council to the government.
Amin added that the definition of bullying must also be given attention, as the lack of it has led to under-reporting and misinterpretation of bullying amongst many parties.
According to him, the council will come up with a clear definition of bullying and bring it up to the government to consider.
Medicine and Health Science Cluster member Datuk Dr Sheikh Omar Abdul Rahman added that the short term goal in dealing with the bullying phenomenon in society was to define it in specific terms.
“Clarity is power. The definition must be the short term goal and for the long term goal, we have to go beyond the definition.
“Being educated and taking action on bullying is crucial. Stakeholders like parents, teachers, activists, society, the government, must take action, which is why we want a continuous policy that is efficient and sustainable.”