New anti-bullying law puts parents in legal spotlight
PETALING JAYA: A new legal provision holding parents jointly liable for their children’s bullying behaviour could strengthen parental accountability, but it should be applied carefully as bullying is driven by a range of factors beyond the home, said experts.
Under the Anti-Bullying Act 2026, parents of underage bullies may be held jointly liable and ordered to pay up to RM250,000 in compensation depending on the victim’s losses and suffering.
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Parent Action Group for Education chairman Datin Noor Azimah Abdul Rahim said involving parents is justified as they shape their children’s values, empathy and behaviour, but bullying is rarely caused by a single factor as it is influenced by family, peers, school climate, mental health and online interactions.
“Parents today face a far more complex environment than previous generations. Bullying no longer occurs only within school compounds.
“It can continue around the clock through social media, gaming platforms, private messaging apps and anonymous online accounts,” she said.
She said the possibility of legal and financial consequences could encourage parents to become more involved in monitoring their children’s behaviour, friendships and online activities.
“It may encourage greater parental involvement, particularly by making parents more aware of the consequences of bullying.” She also said the new law could strengthen collaboration between schools and parents, provided communication does not only take place after bullying has occurred.
“Instead, there should be regular communication on students’ behaviour, early intervention when warning signs emerge and shared strategies to promote respect and responsible conduct.
“Safeguards must also be in place to ensure parents are treated fairly when the law is enforced,” she added.
Noor Azimah said parents should only be held jointly liable after a fair and transparent investigation establishes the facts, with clear legal criteria defining negligence rather than imposing automatic liability simply because a child engaged in bullying.
She added that parents must be given the chance to present evidence that they had exercised reasonable care, guidance and supervision over their children before any liability is imposed.
Child clinical psychologist Dr Noor Aishah Rosli said while parents play a fundamental role in shaping their children’s values and behaviour, they should not automatically be blamed for bullying incidents.
She said parental liability should instead be assessed on a case-by-case basis, taking into account whether parents had made reasonable efforts to educate and supervise their children.
“As children grow into adolescence, they develop a greater capacity to understand the consequences of their own actions and make independent decisions,” she explained.
“If we want to put the blame for bullying on parents, I do not think that is quite right because sometimes parents have taught their children but their children still make the choice to bully.”
Nevertheless, she noted that the new law could serve as a deterrent by encouraging parents to pay closer attention to their children’s behaviour.
