Government officials are coordinating enforcement measures to implement recent amendments to the Penal Code so that all parties clearly understand that bullying is a criminal offence, Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil said today.
Fahmi told reporters the issue was discussed at Wednesday’s Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim in the wake of recent bullying incidents, including the tragic death of Form One student Zara Qairina Mahathir.
“The prime minister made it clear the government will not tolerate bullying in any form, nor allow such cases to go unaccounted for,” Fahmi said.
Cabinet ministers have begun aligning enforcement across ministries — particularly those responsible for schools and student hostels — to ensure the proper application of the newly amended provisions, which came into force in July, he added.
Under the amendments to the Penal Code and the Criminal Procedure Code, bullying is now explicitly classified as a criminal offence, carrying penalties of up to 10 years’ imprisonment. The offences covered include harassment, threats, bullying, insults and the misuse of identity information. Penalties are increased if such conduct leads to a suicide attempt or a death by suicide provoked by the perpetrator’s actions.
Fahmi made the remarks after attending a civil service assembly that drew more than 30,000 public servants through a combination of in-person and virtual participation.
At the same event, Prime Minister Anwar launched a talent development policy for the civil service. According to the Public Service Department, the policy emphasises merit-based performance evaluation, ongoing skills development, the cultivation of a high-performance and integrity-driven culture, and clear career pathways for leadership advancement.
“The policy is intended to keep the public sector relevant, responsive and capable of supporting the nation’s reform agenda,” the department said in a statement.
The government’s dual focus — on law enforcement to tackle bullying and on strengthening the civil service workforce — reflects an effort to address both immediate social concerns and longer-term institutional capacity.
