Our incomplete independence: The shadow of bullying in modern Malaysia

By Chow Kah Yong

Every year, people in Malaysia proudly celebrate National Day on 31 August and Malaysia Day on 16 September.

These celebrations fill us with pride, reminding us of the unity and courage that shaped the nation’s independence.

Yet, as our national flag flutters across the country, a painful question lingers: are we truly free if our children and workers still live under the shadow of bullying?

On 16 July, the death of 13-year-old Zara Qairina Mahathir in Sabah, forced people to confront this painful reality. She was found unconscious near her school dormitory with serious injuries and later died in hospital.

What initially seemed like an accident soon raised darker suspicions when her mother noticed bruises on her body.

The tragedy sparked grief and outrage nationwide. Over 20,000 people rallied under the hashtag JusticeForZara, demanding transparency and justice.

Her case, now under renewed investigation, has become a symbol of the dangers of unchecked bullying.

Sadly, Zara’s story is not isolated. On 20 August, a 22-year-old woman studying at a private university reportedly fell to her death from a condominium in Setapak. Her father later lodged a police report, claiming she had been suffering from long-term verbal bullying and social isolation by a few classmates.

This heartbreaking loss highlighted that bullying is not confined to schoolchildren but also haunts young adults striving for a better future. These young lives, cut short before they could blossom, highlight how pervasive and damaging this problem has become.

These tragedies expose a national crisis. Bullying is often seen as a personal or disciplinary issue, but its impact stretches far wider.

If we viewed it through the lens of accounting, bullying would appear as a hidden liability. Victims miss school, suffer declining performance and may require long-term mental health care. Workplaces lose productivity while institutions face reputational risks. Just as inaccurate accounts can distort a company’s true position, ignoring bullying hides the real costs borne by communities and the nation.

This is why linking the fight against bullying to our national days matters. Independence was built on the promise of justice, dignity and unity – yet bullying goes against all of these.

If independence means freedom from external oppression, then our challenge today is to seek freedom from the hurt and fear caused by bullying. Our nation cannot claim true freedom if its people still live in fear of bullying, whether in schools, universities, workplaces or online.

The challenge is also part of Malaysia’s global responsibility. The UN’s sustainable development goals call for nations to ensure good health (goal 3), provide quality education (goal 4), promote gender equality (goal 5) and foster peace and justice (goal 16). Bullying undermines each of these goals.

By addressing it seriously, Malaysia would not only honour its Merdeka values but also uphold its commitments to building a fairer and more sustainable future by 2030.

Solutions must go beyond punishing bullies after tragedies occur. We must take proactive measures such as enforcing clear anti-bullying policies in schools and universities, providing safe reporting systems, offering counselling support, and promoting education that builds empathy and respect.

Crucially, we must stop downplaying bullying in schools as something normal or harmless. It is not a small matter. Bullying is an abuse of power that causes deep scars, takes away a child’s dignity and sense of safety and, in the worst cases, can even cost lives.

As Malaysia celebrates its national day and its formation, let us pledge to ensure that no child or student is left unprotected, no victim’s voice is silenced, and no family has to mourn because society failed to act.

Only then can we say with confidence that Malaysia is not just independent, but also truly united, just and free.

Chow Kah Yong is an education service Officer at the social science division of the Centre for Foundation Studies in Science (Pasum), University of Malaya.