PENANG Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow has urged the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Education (MoE), to adopt a more comprehensive, aggressive and effective approach to combating bullying in schools, stressing that the safety and well-being of students must never be compromised.
He said schools should be safe environments where children could learn, grow and build their futures, rather than places where they lived in fear of being bullied.
“However, when bullying occurs, whether physically, verbally, non-verbally or through cyberbullying, it can leave deep and lasting scars,” he said.
Chow was speaking at the Excellent Student Award programme for the Padang Kota state constituency at SMK Westlands here today.
Also present were Chow’s political secretary Lau Keng Ee, Padang Kota Service Centre director Ewe Chee Way and SMK Westlands Parent-Teacher Association (PIBG) chairman Ahmad Md Ibramsah.
Chow highlighted that a total of 5,681 bullying cases had been reported in schools nationwide between January and August this year, describing the figure as a worrying reminder of the impact bullying could have on young lives.
“These figures are not merely statistics. Behind every case is a child who may be struggling with fear, stress and trauma. Therefore, we cannot afford to remain silent.
“We need reforms across the school safety ecosystem, including stronger grassroots prevention mechanisms, digital monitoring systems and firm action on every complaint received.
“Our approach can no longer be reactive. We must act proactively to detect and eradicate bullying at its roots,” he said.
He stressed that students’ welfare, particularly their physical and mental well-being, must remain the highest priority at all times.
Chow also warned against concealing bullying complaints to protect a school’s reputation or performance indicators.
“Under no circumstances should anyone suppress complaints or ‘sweep them under the carpet’ simply to protect a school’s image or key performance indicators (KPIs).
“An image can be restored, but the trauma experienced by children can leave scars that last a lifetime,” he said firmly.
However, Chow emphasised that tackling bullying was not solely the responsibility of teachers and school administrators.
Instead, he said parents, community members and PIBG representatives must also play an active role in safeguarding children by remaining vigilant and looking out for signs of bullying.
“In this digital age, vigilance must be continuous, as cyberbullying, in particular, knows no boundaries of time or place.
“Only through cooperation between schools, families and the community can we build a safe, conducive and harmonious educational environment,” he said.
Meanwhile, Chow, who is also the Padang Kota assemblyman, said a total of 154 students from the constituency received the Excellent Student Award this year in recognition of their academic achievements.
Of the recipients, 137 were primary school pupils, while four were students from Form One to Form Four.
Another 10 recipients were Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) candidates who achieved eight As or more, while three were Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM) recipients who attained a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 3.7 and above.
Congratulating the recipients, Chow said their achievements reflected the dedication, discipline and sacrifices that had gone into their academic journeys.
“Today’s success did not come by chance. It is the result of perseverance, strong discipline and tremendous sacrifice,” he said.
He also expressed his appreciation to parents and teachers for their invaluable contributions to the students’ success, describing their support and guidance as fundamental to nurturing the next generation.
Chow expressed hope that programmes such as the award ceremony would continue to inspire young people to embrace learning and strive for excellence.
“To the students, continue moving forward with confidence. Be agents of change, strive for excellence, and bring pride to your families, schools and Penang,” he said.
Story by Riadz Akmal
Pix by Adleena Rahayu Ahmad Radzi
Video by Darwina Mohd Daud