Don’t cover up bullying cases to protect school’s image, says Anwar

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has warned schools against concealing bullying cases to maintain their public image, according to reports from Dewan Rakyat. He stated that 5,681 bullying cases were reported between January and August, encompassing physical, verbal, non-verbal, and cyber bullying. However, Anwar cautioned that the actual number may be higher due to unreported incidents, as some administrators might shy away from reporting such cases to avoid tarnishing their school's reputation.

He emphasized that children are suffering and not receiving the necessary support due to this lack of transparency. The Prime Minister urged swift and firm action to address these issues, highlighting the crucial role of parents and families in combatting bullying and abuse. He also called for increased urgency in tackling these cases, suggesting stricter regulations and a focus on rectifying identified weaknesses.

Anwar's remarks came in response to a question from Saifuddin Abdullah (PN-Indera Mahkota) regarding Prime Minister Khalid Ismail's assertion that safety issues at schools should not be concealed to protect reputations. Khalid had previously emphasized the importance of open reporting and cooperation between schools and police to ensure that all incidents are investigated.

The recent murder of 16-year-old Irene Sofiya Khairul Faisal, allegedly the result of blunt head trauma, has also been investigated by Bukit Aman, with three 16-year-old male students currently in custody.