Outline:
Student Activists Demand Immediate Action on Bullying Crisis
A group of student activists in Malaysia recently held a protest outside the Education Ministry, calling for urgent action to address the growing issue of bullying in schools. The demonstration took place on Thursday, August 21, and was organized by two prominent groups: the Malaysian Muslim Students Coalition (Gamis) and the People’s Advocacy Assembly of Malaysia (Haram). Several other student organizations, including the Universiti Malaya Association of New Youth, Demokrat Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, and United Muslim Malaysia, also participated in the event.
The activists delivered a memorandum to the ministry, outlining six key demands that they believe must be addressed within 30 days. Their primary concern is the safety and well-being of students, particularly regarding the prevalence of bullying in educational institutions. The demands include the establishment of a stronger psychosocial support system in schools, mandatory trauma-informed training for teachers and wardens, and the introduction of compulsory parental education modules to tackle toxic home environments. Other key points include independent monitoring of school safety, the development of a National Anti-Bullying Plan, and additional measures to protect students from harm.
Brendon Gan Vinnten, president of Haram, emphasized the urgency of these demands, stating that if the Education Minister, Fadhlina Sidek, does not respond within the specified timeframe, the activists will push for her resignation. “If she cannot commit to addressing the concerns in bullying across schools, then she should step down,” he said. He also warned that failure to provide a written or verbal response would lead to further mobilization of students and the public.
Gan highlighted the severity of the issue, citing reports that over 11,000 cases of bullying were recorded in the past three years. However, he noted that this number likely underrepresents the true scale of the problem, as many cases go unreported. He criticized previous initiatives such as the “Anti-Bullying” slogan campaign, the reward scheme for “bully-free schools,” and the RM8.4 million allocated for Jalur Gemilang pins, arguing that none of these efforts address the root causes of the crisis.
Fadhlina Sidek was unable to attend the handover of the memorandum, as she was in Parliament at the time. However, officials from the Education Ministry accepted the document on her behalf. Faidz Rashid, head of the ministry’s corporate communications unit, confirmed that the memorandum had been received and would be given due consideration.
In a Facebook post, Fadhlina stated that she would review the proposals, including those related to psychosocial support, teacher training, parental education, and the implementation of safety measures. She mentioned that the ministry is already working on several initiatives to improve school safety, such as conducting safety audits, installing CCTV cameras, and forming a safety reform committee. “I welcome the views and suggestions of all parties to improve safety in all institutions,” she added.
The recent protests come amid growing scrutiny of Fadhlina’s leadership following the tragic death of Zara Qairina, a student who died after being found unconscious in a drain near her school dormitory. Her case has raised concerns about the handling of student safety issues. Additionally, Fadhlina faced criticism after a social media video showed her leading students in chanting birthday wishes for Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on his 78th birthday, which sparked debate about the appropriateness of the event.
As the pressure mounts, the call for meaningful and lasting solutions to the bullying crisis continues to gain momentum. The student activists remain determined to hold the government accountable and ensure that the voices of students are heard.