Pejuang Leader Moots White Paper For Bullying In Schools

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Pejuang has called for a white paper to be tabled to address nationwide bullying cases in schools, and urged various stakeholders to participate in drafting the document within the next three months. 
In calling for the document, which he dubbed “Buli Musuh Negara” (bullies, the enemies of the nation), party spokesperson Rafique Rashid Ali stated that it should incorporate insights from parents, teachers, and parent-teacher association (PTA) committee members from educational institutions nationwide.
“The simplest mechanism for now is for the PTAs at each school and education institution to be given three months to draft a plan or suggestions for this issue.
“PTA meetings within these three months must also analyse the weaknesses within existing procedures to report bullying, the lack of CCTV infrastructure, cases that have not been addressed due to various reasons, the lack of counsellors, the number of bullying incidents, and other problems faced by students at their respective schools,” he said.
Rafique said these meetings should be held at the district, state, and federal levels, and the data and findings gathered should be included in the proposed white paper.
He also suggested a “one-size-fits-all procedure” for all educational institutions as the most effective mechanism.
“The objective is to ensure that all issues can be addressed comprehensively and swiftly. Every single life that can be saved represents a victory for the people,” he said.
‘Let experts, educators lead drafting’
Rafique added that the drafting of the white paper should not be headed by the education minister, even though the portfolio and logistical requirements meant that it would fall under the purview of the Education Ministry.
“It needs to be led by experts and teachers who have been recognised as distinguished educators (tokoh guru), or other community leaders from various professional fields. Parent representatives must also be involved to ensure their greater effectiveness,” he added.
Additionally, Rafique said that the teachers involved must also be given the opportunity to share their suggestions on other matters that could be related to bullying.
These include heavy workload and additional responsibilities that might prevent them from giving their full attention to addressing bullying cases.
ADS“This must also be stressed in the white paper,” he added.
Suspicious death
Rafique’s call comes in the wake of the death of Zara Qairina Mahathir, a Form One pupil, who was pronounced dead at Queen Elizabeth Hospital I on July 17, 2025.
She was rushed to the hospital after being found unconscious in a drain near her religious school’s dormitory in Papar at approximately 4am, the day before.
Zara’s family, however, suspected foul play and demanded that her remains be exhumed to identify her cause of death, stating that no post-mortem examination was conducted before her burial. 
Following public outcry, the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) instructed the police to exhume Zara’s remains for an autopsy.
Zara Qairina MahathirPolice also seized several items, including Zara’s clothing, her diary, and a mobile phone belonging to her mother, Noraidah Lamat, which the family claims contains an audio recording of Zara identifying her alleged bully.
Yesterday, more than 3,000 people gathered in Labuan for the “Justice for Zara” rally, with politicians setting aside their differences to join the demonstration.
‘We have laws for bullying’
In a separate statement, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Azalina Othman Said said that laws had been gazetted in March this year to deal with bullying cases.
She said that the government has already introduced amendments to the Penal Code through Act A1750 (Amendment, 2025), which received royal assent on Feb 25, 2025. The law was gazetted on March 7, 2025.
According to Azalina, the amendments included new sections (507B until 507G) specifically aimed at addressing all forms of bullying, threats, and intimidation, including cyberbullying.
Azalina Othman SaidThose found guilty could face a fine, imprisonment for up to 10 years, or both.
The minister emphasised that it is the responsibility of every citizen to be aware of and obey these laws. 
“I urge every ministry, agency, establishment, and institution to update their respective employees regarding the latest changes to existing laws, and to ensure that their internal policies are in line with these provisions.
“It must be reminded that ignorance of the law is not an excuse. A clear understanding regarding one’s rights and responsibilities under the law is the first step towards building a society that is safer, more ethical, and more humane,” she said. - Mkini

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