KUALA LUMPUR: Physical bullying accounted for 72 per cent of the 61 complaints received by the Anti-Bullying Tribunal involving primary and secondary school pupils nationwide since its establishment on June 16.
Of the 61 complaints recorded between June 16 and Oct 8, 44 involved physical bullying, followed by seven involving emotional or psychological bullying and six involving verbal bullying.
Two complaints involved verbal or language-based cyberbullying, while social bullying and social cyberbullying accounted for one complaint each.
No complaints involving emotional or psychological cyberbullying were recorded during the period.
Anti-Bullying Tribunal president Nurul Husna Awang said, as of Oct 8, eight of the 14 complaints scheduled for hearings had been concluded with decisions.
"Of the eight hearings concluded, four complaints were decided in favour of the complainants, while the other four were decided in favour of the respondents," she said when contacted.
Nurul Husna said the other five complaints were referred to the tribunal after complainants reported the bullying to their schools' Bullying Case Prevention and Management Committees, but felt the complaints had not been handled appropriately.
She said the tribunal had the jurisdiction to hear and determine such complaints under Section 29(2)(a)(i) and (b) of the Anti-Bullying Act.
She said the cases highlighted the need for better understanding of the committee's role, complaint-handling procedures and coordination of anti-bullying measures in schools.
"However, these observations are limited to cases handled by the tribunal and do not reflect the overall situation in schools.
"A more comprehensive assessment would require input from the Education Ministry and relevant agencies," she said.
Early stage of operations
On the biggest challenges faced by the tribunal in handling bullying cases, Nurul Husna said it was too early to identify them as the tribunal was still in the early stages of operation.
However, she said the tribunal needed to improve coordination with relevant agencies to ensure counselling support and services could be provided when ordered as part of its decisions.
Established by the Legal Affairs Division (BHEUU) of the Prime Minister's Department, TAB serves as a channel for addressing bullying complaints.
It hears and determines complaints within its jurisdiction, allowing the parties involved to present information, evidence and supporting documents before issuing an award or order under the Anti-Bullying Act.
Speaking during Question Time in the Dewan Rakyat last week, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said bullying and abuse in schools must not be concealed to protect an institution's image or performance.
He said 5,681 bullying cases were reported in schools nationwide between January and August this year.
The actual number could be higher, he said, as some school administrations chose not to report bullying and disciplinary cases to protect their institutions' reputations.
"In several previous speeches, I have strongly emphasised the issue of bullying and abuse. The problem exists, but it is often concealed to protect an institution's image and performance.
"As a result, children become victims of abuse and mental stress.
"So, I agree that such incidents must never be concealed because we need to act immediately," he said.
Anwar said the government acknowledged that weaknesses remained in addressing the issue and would continue to improve and tighten existing regulations.
He said measures already implemented or being introduced included installing closed-circuit television cameras, increasing the number of guidance and counselling teachers, and appointing assistant hostel wardens.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd