Former Education Minister Maszlee Malik has proposed a five-step plan for the Ministry of Education (MOE) to combat school bullying, which includes the establishment of a National Student Rights Charter.
Writing on his Facebook page, Maszlee said the charter is necessary to guarantee the dignity, safety, and rights of all students, without discrimination, in both public and private educational institutions.
His recommendations also include:
- Legal Clarity: A clearer legal definition of bullying and cyberbullying within the Education Act.
- Oversight Committees: The formation of monitoring committees at both the school and national levels, comprising representatives from parents, NGOs, and government authorities.
- Preventative Programs: The implementation of prevention and intervention programs that include counseling, empathy education, and strict disciplinary measures.
- National Database: The development of a national database to track and monitor bullying cases.
“The tragedy of the late Zara Qairina in Papar, Sabah, is an ’emergency call’ for our entire education system,” Maszlee wrote. “Student safety is not a side issue; it is the highest trust that the MOE is obligated to protect.”
Maszlee highlighted how other countries have used legislation to protect student rights, citing South Korea’s Student Rights Ordinance (since 2012), Finland’s KiVa Anti-Bullying Programme, Canada’s Safe Schools Act, and Japan’s transparent central system, which mandates that all bullying incidents be reported to education authorities.
“While no single model is perfect, these countries have clear and holistic frameworks to address bullying,” he noted. “Malaysia needs to build its own version by combining the best global elements, adapting them to local realities, and continuously monitoring their effectiveness.”
Maszlee added that these five measures were part of the 2019 National Education Policy Study Committee Report, which was intended for implementation in 2021 but was stalled by the 2020 change in government. He urged the MOE to form an implementation committee within 90 days and present the Student Rights Charter to Parliament before the end of this year.
The recommendations follow the death of Zara Qairina Mahathir, a Form 1 student who was found unconscious near her school hostel in Papar, Sabah, on July 16. She passed away the following day at Queen Elizabeth I Hospital.
