Bullying – Are schools taking it too lightly?

THE recent death of 13-year-old Zara Qairina Mahathir has opened the eyes of many to a problem which has likely been around for years, but not given due attention - till now.

Bullying in schools has been a pesistent concern and recently, there has been a marked increase in such incidents.

In 2022, there were 3,887 reported cases of bullying, while the number rose to 4,994 (2023) and in October last year, to 5,703 cases.

This is a notable rise in cases which can be attributed to numerous factors which include a lack of awareness, peer pressure and even poor enforcement of school regulations.

Bullying can come in three forms  - physical, verbal and emotional which includes the spreading of rumours.

According to reports, one reason why a student bullies another is probably because that student was also a victim of bullying in the past.

Some may be emotionally neglected, bullied, abused or be experiencing violence themselves.

Bullies are more likely to have lifelong issues such as depression or problems with aggression.

Recent incident

A mother recently took to social media to share her daughter’s traumatic experience and to seek advice from others after a bullying incident that could have ended in disaster.

“My daughter, Syairah, almost fell down the stairs at school — from the top floor. Another student deliberately tripped her.

"She managed to grab the railing just in time. And the bully? Had the nerve to say “padan muka” (serves you right).

"My daughter returned home shaken and has since been begging me to transfer her to another school," she wrote on social media.

One netizen, Nurul Ain Azri, who said she was a teacher, advised the mother to inform the school immediately.

“Request the school to call in the girl and her parents. When the bully knows she’s being watched, she might think twice before doing it again.

“It doesn’t matter whether her parents believe her or not. But as a mother, you should take this step to set the standard," she said.

As a parent, she said she has taught her children to make a scene immediately if they’re being bullied — to draw attention and let others know what’s happening.

Other netizens urged the mother concerned to lodge a police report. They claimed that the school would only take the matter seriously if there was a police report.

Pandemic to blame?

According to foreign reports, experts believe that the years of disruption during the Covid-19 pandemic had caused students to struggle with managing stress, solving problems and relationships with their peers.

They claimed that during the lockdowns, children did not have access to a lot of the coping skills they typically would have access to in tems of being able to go to school.

Reports have also revealed that the impact of bullying can be long-lasting and victims also suffer mental and emotional suffering such as depression, anxiety disorders, loss of self-confidence and social phobia.

There is 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.

According to UNICEF, children who bully usually come from a perceived higher social status or position of power, such as children who are bigger, stronger, or perceived to be popular.

The most vulnerable children face a higher risk of being bullied. These are often children from communities that are marginalised, children from poor families, children with different gender identities, children with disabilities or migrant and refugee children.

Need for a police report?

A check by The Vibes with several parents revealed that most were of the opinion that schools were not doing enough to check the bullying problem and 'swept it under the carpet'.

Parents claimed that many schools regarded it as a 'small problem' and something that did not require urgent attention.

"There is a growing concern over instances of bullying, especially now with social media where plenty of negativity is being spread.

"Schools alone cannot check this problem and we, as parents have to play an active role also," said Anita, a parent of three schoolgoing children.

Another parent, Nicole Lee, said parents must educate their children about bullying and also familiarise themselves with their child's experiences.

"We have to be very alert and look out for such signs as a fear of school, physical marks, often asking for money and having nightmares.

"If parents notice such signs, there is something wrong and we must take the next step and speak to their teachers," she said.

Most of the parents also supported the idea of lodging a police report as this would ensure the case was given urgent attention and thoroughly probed. - August 10, 2025