Education Minister Datuk Seri Fadhlina Sidek said her ministry had introduced measures over several years while adding new initiatives to address remaining gaps.
"I understand parents' concerns whenever a bullying case occurs. I am also a mother. My own child has studied and stayed in a hostel under the same education system.
"Every time parents send their children to school, there is a trust we carry together. They want their children to return home safely. We cannot take that trust lightly.
"Whenever a case occurs, we must have the courage to review what remains weak. If there are gaps, we fix them. I do not want us to be complacent with what has already been done.
"As long as there are children who do not yet feel safe at school, our work is not finished," she said in a posting on Facebook.
It was reported that a Form Two student at a school in the Kuala Pilah district in Negri Sembilan died recently, reportedly after being bullied at the school hostel.
The 14-year-old was found unconscious at the school hostel before being taken to Tuanku Ampuan Najihah Hospital (HTAN), where he was pronounced dead.
Fadhlina said among the measures introduced or expanded were the deployment of 300 short term employment (MySTEP) assistant wardens from April 2026 to help monitor hostel students, particularly at night.
She said the ministry also enhanced its bullying complaints system by introducing an anonymous complaint function through the Bullying Complaints Portal to protect the identities of complainants and witnesses.
"The ministry is also working with the Legal Affairs Division of the Prime Minister's Department on the drafting of the Anti-Bullying Act 2026, which includes the establishment of an Anti-BullyingTribunal as a channel for victims to seek redress.
"CCTV installation has also been expanded in residential schools. A total of 200 boarding schools were equipped with CCTV in 2025, while installation in 333 boarding schools is being expanded in 2026 with an additional allocation of RM5 million," she added.
Fadhlina said the Guidelines for Managing Bullying Misconduct, introduced in 2023, provided schools with an official reference for receiving complaints, conducting investigations, taking disciplinary action and implementing interventions.
Meanwhile, she said Character Education would be introduced under the 2027 school curriculum, with emphasis on values and character including integrity and empathy.
She added that the ministry was also implementing the SAFE framework, which focused on prevention, early intervention and rehabilitation through measures including peer support and focused counselling.
"Efforts to address bullying must continue as long as students remained at risk," she stressed. - NST
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