All Parties Urged To Be Alert To Bullying Complaints - Nancy

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 9 (Bernama) -- Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri has called on all parties to stay alert to any complaints of bullying.

She said that parents should pay close attention, listen to their children’s complaints, and promptly report incidents to the Social Welfare Department (JKM) via the 15999 helpline, or contact the police if bullying occurs, whether at school or at home.

“We do not want bullying to become normalised in society. That is why the government takes this issue seriously, and will take firm action. If the incident happens at school, the victims inform their parents. However, if the parents themselves are the problem, the victims must find a trusted person who can listen to their problems.

“At the same time, the community must also give these children the space to speak out, because they may have nowhere else to turn. That is why we advocate for the 15999 helpline. If a bullying incident occurs, we must all play our part.

She said this after meeting victims of a fire at Sekolah Rendah Agama Al-Khawarizmi temporary evacuation centre, which is currently sheltering 66 people, from 17 families.

Earlier, Nancy officiated the 2025 Federal Territory-level child protection advocacy programme at the Kerinchi Children’s Activity Centre (PAKK), which was attended by Communications Minister and Lembah Pantai Member of Parliament Datuk Fahmi Fadzil.

Commenting on the programme, Nancy said that it was part of preventative measures to raise public awareness on issues of child abuse, neglect, exploitation, and bullying, in line with the implementation of the Child Act 2001.

According to JKM statistics, as of June, there were 650 cases of child abuse and neglect recorded in Kuala Lumpur, underscoring the need for the involvement of all parties, including the community, in tackling the issue.

Nancy also said that her ministry would continue to assist in the case involving Form One student, Zara Qairina Mahathir.

“JKM was the first agency to contact and meet the victim’s mother to offer assistance, upon receiving news of the incident. We do not yet know the outcome of the investigation, so we leave it to the Attorney General’s Chambers and the police. That is their responsibility, and we will follow the development of the case closely.

“I also extend my condolences to the family of the late Zara Qairina. As parents, we share their grief, and I hope they will remain calm and cooperate with the relevant authorities,” she said.

Zara Qairina, 13, was pronounced dead at Queen Elizabeth I Hospital in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, on July 17.

She was rushed to the hospital after being found unconscious in a drain near her school dormitory in Papar, at 4 am the previous day.

-- BERNAMA