Kuantan: Schools have been urged not to hesitate in lodging police reports on bullying incidents to enable early intervention before the issue becomes more widespread. Kuantan police chief ACP Ashari Abu Samah emphasized the importance of schools actively cooperating with the police, including maintaining regular communication with their assigned school liaison officer (PPS) to facilitate information sharing.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Ashari urged schools to cooperate fully, stating, "If there are bullying cases, do not hesitate to come forward and lodge a report with the police so we can intervene early and prevent the issue from escalating." He acknowledged the tendency of some schools in the past to keep such matters under wraps to protect their reputation, which he described as an unhealthy approach that risks becoming a pervasive issue within the education system.

Speaking to reporters after officiating an anti-bullying town hall session organized by the Kuantan district police headquarters (IPD), Ashari highlighted the absence of reported bullying cases to the IPD between January and July this year. However, he urged parents to remain vigilant and not rely solely on teachers for their children's education. The event was attended by school principals and teachers from across the district.

Ashari pointed out that most bullying incidents tend to occur in boarding schools and reminded that such acts are criminal offences under Section 507 of the Penal Code. He cited dominance-seeking behavior, media influence, and family economic background as possible triggers for bullying incidents.