Fadhlina answers Asyraf Wajdi's seven proposals, says many are already in place

KUALA LUMPUR: Education Minister Datuk Seri Fadhlina Sidek said most of the anti-bullying measures proposed by Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA) chairman Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki are already being carried out by the Education Ministry.

In a post on Threads yesterday, Fadhlina responded to seven proposals Asyraf Wajdi made following the death of Muhammad Idlan Fareeq Shahril, a Form Two student at SMK Za'ba in Kuala Pilah, at the school's hostel.

The proposals covered full-time professional wardens, a zero-tolerance policy on bullying, full enforcement of the Anti-Bullying Act 2026, action against those who cover up cases, wider CCTV coverage, an early-warning system and an end to abusive seniority practices.

Assistant wardens and CCTV

Fadhlina said boarding schools now have more than 10,000 wardens, while 300 assistant hostel wardens have been added since April to strengthen supervision, including at night.

CCTV coverage has been extended to 333 schools this year. She stressed, however, that cameras are not a solution on their own and must be backed by human supervision.

She added that the Bullying Complaints Portal now allows anonymous reports to protect the identities of complainants and witnesses, a step aimed at easing students' fears about coming forward.

The Act and the tribunal

According to Fadhlina, school guidelines on handling bullying have been in place since 2010 and were strengthened in 2023. The Anti-Bullying Act 2026 moves the handling of bullying beyond school guidelines into a legal duty, with victims able to take complaints to a tribunal if they are not properly addressed.

She said bullying cases involving criminal elements cannot be treated as purely a matter of school discipline and must be reported to the police.

On seniority culture, she said: "If seniority makes juniors afraid to speak up, that is not tradition. That is a culture we have to stop."

Investigation ongoing

Police are investigating the 14-year-old's death under Section 302 of the Penal Code, which covers murder. A 16-year-old senior student has been remanded to assist investigations.

No charges have been filed against the suspect so far, and the cause of death has yet to be established pending further tests. Remand does not mean a person is guilty.

The ministry earlier directed the Schools Inspectorate to audit safety and procedural compliance at the school.