THE Ministry of Education (MOE) will allocate RM15 million next year to expand closed-circuit television (CCTV) surveillance to 1,000 schools nationwide, as Malaysia recorded 4,289 bullying cases in schools and hostels over six months.
Education Minister Datuk Seri Fadhlina Sidek said 2,480 cases involved physical bullying, followed by 1,386 verbal bullying cases, 243 non-verbal cases and 180 cyberbullying incidents between March and August.
“The Ministry of Education takes every incident of bullying involving pupils seriously, whether in schools or hostels. As such, the ministry continues to strengthen its comprehensive approach to tackling bullying, covering enforcement, surveillance of school and hostel environments, victim protection, psychosocial intervention and character development among pupils,” she said.
Fadhlina was responding in a written reply in the Dewan Rakyat on Tuesday to Muhammad Fawwaz Mohamad Jan (PN-Permatang Pauh), who asked about bullying cases since the Anti-Bullying Act 2026 came into force and improvements to hostel monitoring following revelations during the inquest into the death of Zara Qairina.
She said the number of cases highlighted the need for continuous efforts to tackle bullying, rather than relying solely on disciplinary measures.
“Every complaint must receive appropriate attention, be investigated according to established procedures and be followed by suitable action and intervention,” she said.
The ministry installed CCTV systems at 200 boarding schools in 2025 at a cost of RM3 million. This year, a further RM5 million was allocated for installations at 333 boarding schools.
The RM15 million allocation for Phase Three in 2027 will extend CCTV coverage to 1,000 schools nationwide.
However, Fadhlina stressed that physical surveillance alone could not guarantee pupils’ safety.
She said supervision by school personnel, vigilance towards changes in pupils’ behaviour and prompt responses to complaints were equally important in ensuring a safe hostel environment. - October 14, 2026