Anti-Bullying Act needed urgently to prevent another tragedy

Borneo Post

3 days ago

Noraini
KOTA KINABALU (July 25): Umno Sabah Wanita chief Datuk Noraini Idris is urging for the immediate enactment of the Anti-Bullying Act.
'Do not wait for another student's life to be lost. The Anti-Bullying Act must be enacted without delay,' she said in a statement.
The former senator said that the death of young Zara Qairina Mahathir is not merely a sad story.
'It is a heartbreaking tragedy, especially if it is proven true that Zara was a victim of bullying at her school.
Although the matter is still under investigation by the authorities, according to the account of the victim's mother, the child had complained to her that she was being bullied at school,' she claimed.
She alleged that cases like Zara's — and many others that have gone viral previously, whether at schools or residential higher learning institutions — show that bullying can lead to trauma, emotional distress, serious injury, and even death.
'Without specific legislation, many bullying cases are treated merely as 'disciplinary misconduct', rather than a criminal offence. It is time for the Anti-Bullying Act to be expedited, as it touches on student safety, the responsibility of educational institutions, and justice for victims,' she said.
She believes that with the existence of an Anti-Bullying Act, any party involved — including schools, hostels, or educational institutions — would be held legally accountable if they were negligent in addressing or protecting victims of bullying, or in attempting to conceal bullying incidents under their supervision.
'This Act would send a clear message that bullying is not a trivial matter, but a serious offence that will not be compromised under any circumstances. It would also help reduce the culture of silent bullying, which has long been normalised in many institutions,' she stressed.
In the case of Zara, since the incident occurred within school grounds, the school must assume full responsibility and not attempt to conceal the facts, she said.
'Society, especially the victim's family, deserves to know the truth behind this tragedy.'
'Imagine if schools were no longer seen as safe places for parents to send their children to learn, due to the failure of those involved in addressing such issues. This requires the accountability of all parties — especially teachers and hostel wardens — to prevent and monitor such incidents from happening to any student under their care. Schools must take greater responsibility in fulfilling the trust placed in them by parents and the government to protect students,' she added.
She said that what is needed is swift action through the enactment of the Anti-Bullying Act.
'The complaint system must be independent and protected. Perpetrators must be dealt with fairly and firmly. The loss of a child is not a wound that heals in a day or two. It is a wound that calls for the entire system to bear its weight together. Zara is gone, but let her death be the final limit to our negligence. If we still choose to delay this legislation, then we are leaving the door open to the next tragedy. And this time, we cannot say we didn't know,' she said.