The Anti-Bullying Act 2026 came into force today, alongside the launch of a new tribunal comprising experts in various fields, from child welfare to mental health and law.
The tribunal is led by sessions court judge Nurul Husna Awang and supported by her deputy, former senior federal counsel Gan Chee Keong, and 56 members.
The tribunal will serve as a second avenue for victims who believe their complaints were not properly addressed by educational institutions, while handling cases involving children outside the school system.
“The tribunal will provide a child-friendly and accessible avenue for dispute resolutions, operating as a faster alternative system with civil jurisdiction,” law and institutional reform minister Azalina Othman Said said at the tribunal’s launch today.
While it will be based at the Asian International Arbitration Centre, hearings may be conducted nationwide, including at schools, legal aid department offices, and online.
However, Azalina maintained that schools and educational institutions remain responsible for handling complaints at the first instance.
“Schools and educational institutions remain the first line of defence,” she said, adding that complaints must be dealt with promptly, transparently, and firmly.
Tribunal awards will be legally binding and may include compensation, apologies, and orders requiring offenders to undergo rehabilitation programmes.
Implementation will initially focus on those aged 18 and below, with the government assessing its effectiveness before considering any expansion of its scope.
At a press conference, Nurul said cyberbullying complaints involving anonymous social media accounts might require assistance from the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission to identify those responsible.
Azalina meanwhile said that the Anti-Bullying Act places responsibility not only on perpetrators but, in certain circumstances, on their families, with liability and financial penalties potentially extending to parents or guardians.
