By : 
Prof. Madya Dr Haliza Abdul Rahman
Ketua Laboratori Belia Dalam Kepimpinan, Politik dan Kewarganegaraan
Institut Pengajian Sains Sosial
Universiti Putra Malaysia

 

Bullying in schools is no longer an isolated phenomenon but has become a serious and widespread social problem as it affects not only the well-being of students but also the reputation of educational institutions and the harmony of society. Bullying in schools involves not only physical violence but also non-physical forms such as cyberbullying, social isolation and body-shaming. As a result, this phenomenon has a serious impact on the mental well-being, academic achievement and safety of students in Malaysia.

 

In the context of modern education, schools are supposed to be safe and conducive places for students to grow intellectually, emotionally, and socially. However, the increasing number of bullying cases every year shows that the school environment is increasingly polluted with aggressive behaviour, social pressure and violence hidden behind the walls of learning. The year 2025 will see new challenges in dealing with bullying cases with the influence of social media, uncontrolled technology and a culture of 'normalization' of bullying among students.

 

According to statistics released by the Ministry of Education Malaysia (MOE) in 2023, a total of 8,820 cases of bullying were reported in secondary schools nationwide, an increase of almost 20% compared to 7,360 cases in 2022. In fact, as of October 2024, there were 11,594 students involved in 5,703 bullying cases including physical, verbal, social and cyberbullying cases. Physical bullying such as pushing, beating, and blackmailing often occurs in hidden places such as toilets, storage rooms, or quiet areas at school while verbal bullying such as insults, taunts, and abusive words occur openly in front of peers. The phenomenon of cyberbullying has become more complex and difficult to control when students use social media such as WhatsApp, Instagram and TikTok to spread hate messages, embarrassing pictures or videos of live bullying. A study by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) in 2023 showed that 1 in 3 secondary school students had experienced cyberbullying, yet more than half of them did not report the incident for fear of retaliation or distrust of the school system.

 

One of the cases that once shocked the nation occurred at a boarding school in Johor at the end of 2022, when a form four student was believed to have died after being beaten by a group of senior students. This case exposes the long-standing "ragging" culture in boarding schools where senior students abuse power and status to bully juniors on the grounds of "teaching" or "disciplining" them. This incident not only sparked public anger but also became clear evidence that the monitoring system in schools is still lax and inefficient in curbing the culture of bullying. More surprisingly, a study by the National University of Malaysia (UKM) found that 40% of secondary school students admitted to having bullied their peers, while 30% of students had been bullied at least once during their school years.

 

The impact of bullying on victims is profound and long-lasting. This is because victims of bullying not only suffer physical injuries, but also suffer mental and emotional suffering such as depression, anxiety disorders, loss of self-confidence, social phobia and a tendency to self-harm. According to the Malaysian Psychiatric Association, more than 60% of students who are victims of bullying show symptoms of depression or serious emotional distress and some of them require long-term psychological treatment. In a more extreme case, there are victims who are determined to commit suicide as happened in 2021 to a 15-year-old female student in Selangor who was found to have left a note expressing stress due to ridicule from friends as the main cause of the tragic act. A study of 95,545 students in Asia also found that victims of bullying have a 2–18 times higher risk of developing mental disorders such as PTSD, depression and internet addiction.

 

Bullying also has a negative impact on the perpetrator himself. The fact is, many bullies have problematic family backgrounds, lack parental attention or are exposed to a violent culture at home. According to a study by the University of Malaya, students who engage in bullying behaviour are twice as likely to be involved in crimes such as theft, drug abuse and violence as adults. This shows that failure to address bullying issues from an early stage can have a domino effect on the safety of society as a whole.

 

Realizing the seriousness of this issue, various parties need to play a comprehensive and integrated role. Schools as the main institutions need to strengthen the supervision and discipline system. Intervention programmes such as anti-bullying campaigns, formation of effective disciplinary committees, installation of closed-circuit cameras (CCTV) in high-risk locations as well as confidential case reporting through applications such as MOE's official WhatsApp, emails, school complaint boxes and SISPAA portals should be expanded. Teachers and counsellors should be given training to identify early signs of bullying and provide ongoing psychological support to victims. The establishment of "Personality Ambassadors" in every school where students are trained to become personality monitors in helping to monitor and advise friends who are potentially involved in bullying is also a good step. Campaigns such as the BEST (Bantu-Empati-Sayangi-Tanggunganggung) programme which has been held since 2023, along with guidance for schools and students have also increased bullying awareness and control. In addition, parents should also be actively involved in educating children about empathy, respect and boundaries in interaction. Existing laws also need to be reviewed to allow for stricter punishments to be imposed on perpetrators of hardcore bullying, including disciplinary action or charges under the Penal Code if it involves serious physical injury to the victim.

 

In short, the issue of bullying in schools is not just a small problem that can be taken lightly, but rather a major threat to the stability of the country's education system and social development. This is because it affects the well-being of students, threatens the safety of the school environment and damages the future of individuals and society. Therefore, a holistic approach involving all parties including the government, schools, parents, communities and the students themselves is very important to eradicate the culture of bullying from the grassroots. These efforts not only guarantee the safety of students but also ensure that every individual is given a fair opportunity to build a bright future in an atmosphere free from fear, humiliation, and violence.

 

Date of Input: 24/07/2025 | Updated: 20/01/2026 | nm_aini