KUCHING: The Bullying Issues Management Committee has been established to address bullying issues in a more structured and comprehensive manner in the state with initial focus on bullying cases among school students.
Minister for Women, Early Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah said the establishment of the committee has set the scope to include bullying cases in schools, higher learning institutions, workplaces as well as non-government or private educational institutions.
However, she explained that the decision to focus on schools was made based on the presentation of current data which showed that bullying cases among students require more serious attention at the initial stage.
"From the presentation that has been made, we found that the issue that requires the highest focus at the moment is bullying cases among school students.
"This does not mean that bullying cases do not occur in the workplace or in other locations, but for now, we do not have the complete data.
"Until the data is obtained, the main focus is on addressing bullying issues among school students," she said in a press conference after the Sarawak Bullying Issues Management Committee (JPIBS) Meeting No. 1/2026 at the Baitulmakmur 2 Building on Tuesday.
Dato Sri Fatimah added that the committee will also establish a lead agency to focus specifically on bullying issues in private schools and subsequently in the workplace since the Standard Operating Procedures for bullying management are different from the government.
For the record, statistics from the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) show a significant increase for last year when 49 bullying cases were reported involving 66 people to assist in the investigation compared to 15 bullying cases in 2024 involving 34 people.
As of 31 January 2026, a total of three cases have been reported involving two people to assist in the investigation.
In the meantime, she said that various awareness programmes will be implemented to provide understanding to school students, students of higher learning institutions, employees and private school students on the meaning of bullying, its effects and available channels of assistance.
"The programmes that will be implemented will focus on creating awareness so that all parties understand what bullying is, what support systems are available and what actions need to be taken if faced with a bullying situation.
"The most important thing is that if we do not speak up or report, bullying will continue to occur.
"Therefore, bullying needs to be stopped by getting the appropriate help," she stressed. -UKASnews
Reporter: Ahmad Daniel Faiz
Photographer: Ahmad Daniel Faiz
Translator: Nerissa Sia
