By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Aug 17: The heart-breaking case of Zara Qairina Mahathir should serve as a wake-up call for Sarawak government to confront the entrenched crisis of school bullying, says Democratic Action Party (DAP) Sarawak Political Education director Irene Chang.
She stressed that while the tragic incident did not occur in Sarawak, the problem of bullying is also prevalent in the State and has for too long been swept under the carpet.
“National surveys show that nearly one in three students in Malaysia experience some form of bullying during their school years.
“The actual figures in Sarawak may be higher as many cases go unreported,” she said in a statement today.
According to Chang, the reasons for underreporting are familiar: schools seeking to protect their “good record” and parents fearing retaliation against their children.
“This culture of silence is unacceptable. It robs victims of protection and empowers bullies to continue without consequence.
“Every unreported and unaddressed case feeds a dangerous cycle that harms students’ safety, mental health and trust in the education system,” she added.
She acknowledged the recent publicity given to helplines and awareness campaigns following bullying cases including Zara’s tragedy, but stressed that more preventive measures must begin in the classroom.
“It is a sad reality that many of these cases spiral out of control because a lot of teachers are not trained to recognise, manage or resolve bullying effectively. A hotline can only help after the harm is done, which in some cases might be too late,” she explained.
Chang pointed out that bullying often goes beyond physical acts, and includes persistent mocking, humiliation, exclusion, spreading false rumours and online harassment.
“These behaviours leave no physical bruises but can erode a child’s self-worth, cause anxiety or depression, and leave long-lasting scars. Teachers, parents and school authorities must be trained to recognise such destructive behaviours and act swiftly to stop them,” she said.
To this end, Chang urged the Ministry of Education and the Sarawak Ministry of Education, Innovation and Talent Development to implement mandatory teacher training, establish anonymous reporting channels and enforce clear intervention protocols in schools.
She also emphasised the need for immediate counselling support for both victims and perpetrators.
“Bullying is not just a disciplinary issue or ‘a part of growing up’. It is a child protection issue.
“Protecting our children must come before protecting reputations. A truly safe school environment requires action before, not after, the damage is done,” she stressed. – DayakDaily
