Kuala lumpur: The Anti-Bullying Bill 2025 is set to become a protective force for children, ensuring schools are safe environments for learning and personal growth. Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform), Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said, emphasized the importance of this initiative during its second reading in the Dewan Rakyat.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Azalina highlighted that the Bill's drafting process incorporated direct feedback from children through special engagement sessions. These interactions revealed the emotional impact of bullying, as children recounted experiences of taunts and intimidation. A notable contribution came from a child named Rishvan's younger brother, who coined the term 'hero friend' to describe a supportive peer who defends against bullying. Azalina expressed her hope that the Bill will serve as such a 'hero friend' to all children.

The Bill's development also involved extensive townhall sessions across the country in September and October, engaging nearly 4,000 participants. Azalina noted that the sessions underscored the public's demand for national standards on bullying, including a uniform definition, safe school guidelines, and consistent complaint mechanisms. Additionally, feedback was collected through a public portal, garnering 509 responses from various stakeholders such as students, parents, and civil society organizations.

Azalina identified four major challenges in addressing bullying: the crime-focused nature of current laws, inconsistent case handling, societal insensitivity to subtle forms of bullying, and the high standard of proof required for crimes. She pointed out that the existing legal framework often fails to provide rehabilitation and protection for victims, and the variability in how cases are treated across schools further complicates resolution efforts. The new Bill aims to address these issues by clearly defining categories of bullying activities for the first time in legislation.