The Education Ministry is adopting a holistic approach to bullying through counselling, parent engagement and the SAFE anti-bullying programme.
PETALING JAYA: The Education Ministry will prioritise parent engagement and counsellor-backed psychosocial support in bullying, discipline and misconduct cases involving students, Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek told the Dewan Rakyat today.
She said discussions with parents would be supported by qualified counsellors to ensure follow-up sessions and student interventions were continuously monitored.
“When we see cases involving discipline, misconduct or any issue that has an impact on children, discussions with parents will be prioritised.
“These discussions with parents must also be supported by other support systems,” she said.
Fadhlina was replying to Syerleena Abdul Rashid (PH–Bukit Bendera), who asked how enforcement under the Anti-Bullying Act would be carried out fairly in cases involving parental responsibility.
Syerleena asked how the ministry would distinguish between parents who were genuinely negligent and those who had taken appropriate steps but whose children were still involved in bullying incidents.
Fadhlina said issues involving students’ welfare, emotions and psychosocial wellbeing must be viewed holistically.
She said the MOE provided qualified counsellors to monitor discussions with parents, follow-up sessions and psychosocial support.
“This is to ensure that intervention is continuous,” she said.
Fadhlina said the ministry hoped such interventions would involve cooperation between parent-teacher associations, schools, parents and the wider community.
She said other authorities and agencies could also be brought in depending on the needs of the children and the expertise required.
Earlier, Fadhlina said the Anti-Bullying Act 2026, which came into force on June 16, provided a new legal framework to address bullying in a firmer and more structured manner.
She said an Anti-Bullying Tribunal had also been established to strengthen prevention, victim protection and enforcement against perpetrators.
At the school level, she said disciplinary committees would continue to serve as the front line for prevention and preliminary investigations, while a bullying complaint portal had been introduced as a safe and child-friendly reporting channel.
Fadhlina said the KPM had also introduced the SAFE programme, or School Anti-Bullying Framework for Empowerment, which emphasises psychoeducation through prevention, development, rehabilitation and crisis management.
