SHAH ALAM – A legal expert has called for a dedicated law to address bullying in educational institutions, stressing that children and adults must be dealt with differently in such cases.
International Islamic University Malaysia Ahmad Ibrahim Kulliyyah of Laws Associate Professor Dr Khairil Azmin Mokhtar said the government might need to introduce a new law to deal with bullying incidents in schools and other educational institutions.
He said any enforcement measures should consider various factors to ensure the safety of students and uphold transparency in the justice system.
“These details are very important. If the act of bullying involves children, they will be tried in the Children’s Court under the Child Act.
“Their responsibilities are different from those of adults. Therefore, the way we address bullying among children under the age of 18 and adults must be distinguished,” he told Sinar Harian.
Khairil Azmin said that the factors to be considered include the type of bullying, the age of the perpetrator and the differences in the ministries involved.
He added that if a bullying case involves physical injury leading to death, current laws could still be applied regardless of the perpetrator’s background.
However, the proceedings would differ if the perpetrator is a minor.
“When discussing bullying among school students, we need to be sensitive because they are still minors and have a future ahead of them,” he said.