Don’t hide bullying, abuse cases to protect school image, Anwar tells schools

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 6 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim cautioned schools against hiding reports of bullying and abuse to uphold their reputations, stating that this action could harm students' well-being. Addressing a supplementary query from Indera Mahkota MP Datuk Seri Saifuddin Abdullah during Prime Minister's Question Time in the Dewan Rakyat, Anwar explained that some schools may refrain from reporting these incidents to maintain a positive public image and performance record.

"There are problems, and sometimes they are covered up because they do not want a bad image," he noted, stressing that while schools strive to protect their image, the real victims are the students who experience abuse and pressure while attending school. Anwar wholeheartedly agreed with the Royal Malaysia Police's call for schools to refrain from concealing such cases, emphasizing that safeguarding a school's reputation should never supersede the safety and well-being of students.

"Don’t hide it. We hide it to protect the school’s image, but we damage our children. We don’t think about that," he asserted. The previous day, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Mohd Khalid Ismail had highlighted the necessity of not concealing safety issues in schools to avoid hindering authorities from taking appropriate action.

He stressed the importance of enhanced cooperation between law enforcement and educational institutions to ensure that all incidents are reported for further investigation. Anwar stressed the urgency of addressing bullying and abuse, mentioning that he had delivered firm messages on this matter during various school speeches. "The issue of bullying and abuse, in several of my speeches at schools, I have been very firm," he reiterated.

Anwar also recognized that the urgency of the measures might not have been communicated effectively enough, but assured that the government would refine its approach. He underscored the critical role parents and families play in monitoring their children's well-being and expressed hope that their collective efforts would prevent similar instances in the future, aiming to shield the nation from deeply distressing cases.