KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 20 (Bernama) -- The proposed extension of the bullying tribunal's jurisdiction to individuals aged 18 and above, including university students, will require further consideration by the Cabinet.
Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said said the government has yet to make a decision on the matter, which would require consultation with the relevant ministry.
"I know a lot of you are asking, what happens when you're above 18? What happens to universities? It is just that, as we go around, it is a conversation that a lot of people ask about. That one we have to bring with the Ministry involved. For now, we have not said anything yet," she said.
She told reporters after the Bullying Prevention Literacy Programme in conjunction with the Anti-Bullying Act 2026, organised by the Legal Affairs Division of the Prime Minister’s Department at the Education Ministry’s Malay Language Institute of Teacher Education (IPG) campus here today.
Also present was Education Minister Datuk Seri Fadhlina Sidek.
Azalina said the tribunal was still being implemented in phases to address bullying cases involving school students, while any expansion of its jurisdiction would need to take into account various factors, including the circumstances of young people aged 18 and above.
She said there was a general presumption that those above 18 were capable of taking care of themselves, but the needs and challenges faced by young people should also be considered.
On whether a bullying case could be referred back to the tribunal if the same perpetrator repeated the offence against the same victim after an earlier resolution, Azalina said each case would be assessed according to its individual circumstances.
“Some cases, the evaluation and circumstances are different. Some will be rejected, some will be accepted. But basically, what we want is for the tribunal to be an intervention system,” she said.
Azalina said the tribunal would consider the circumstances of both victims and perpetrators, including their emotional well-being, rather than focusing solely on compensation or punishment.
“When they issue an award, they will also include certain assistance for emotional challenges and other issues. So it is not just about damages or punishment,” she said.
--BERNAMA