KUALA LUMPUR: The Alliance for A Safe Community has called on the government to revisit the Anti-Bullying Act, emphasising the need for stricter punishments for bullies.
Its chairman, Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye said the issue of school bullying had become so rampant that he suggested the Education Ministry (MoE) adopted a more rigorous approach to prevent it from recurring.
Lee stressed that to date, no proactive measures had been taken, despite a circular from the MoE addressing this issue.
"Until this moment, we see that there is no enduring solution to the problem. Therefore, it is necessary for the authorities to revisit this Act.
"MoE should seek views and comments from various quarters, including non-governmental organisations, parent-teacher associations and students themselves.
"Bullying if left unchecked could lead to more serious problems, damaging the confidence of those affected and causing long-term trauma," he told the New Straits Times.
Lee believes the MoE should take the lead in campaigning for this legislation to effectively address the problem and create a safer and more inclusive learning environment for all students.
As of today, the only education-related laws enforced in Malaysia include the Penal Code, the 1957 Education Ordinance and the 1959 School Discipline Regulations.
Earlier today, Deputy Minister Lim Hui Ying said there was a new circular to prevent bullying, sexual harassment and racial issues in schools.
Commenting on the latest MoE circular mentioned by the deputy minister, he described it as a very soft approach taken by the ministry.
"The guidelines should have been announced much earlier. If the existence of the guidelines does not help address the issue, perhaps they should reconsider the Anti-Bullying Act," he added.
Previously, police said they had submitted investigation papers on the Form Five students of MCKK who were allegedly involved in a bullying case to the deputy public prosecutor (DPP).
The case is being investigated under Section 323 of the Penal Code for voluntarily causing hurt, which provides for a maximum jail term of one year or a maximum fine of RM2,000 or both, if convicted.
Previously, screenshots of a social media post by a woman believed to be the sister of the victim went viral on social media.
Apart from sharing the predicament faced by the victim, the woman also vented her frustration over the "light punishment" received by the students who had allegedly assaulted her brother.
The woman claimed the students, who allegedly assaulted her brother, only received between two and three strokes of the rotan.