KUALA LUMPUR: More than 4,500 cases of bullying have been recorded as of October of this year, says Deputy Education Minister Lim Hui Ying.

She told the Dewan Rakyat on Wednesday (Nov 1) that the ministry has received 4,994 reports so far, which is an increase from 3,887 cases last year and 326 cases in 2021.

“All of these cases have been investigated, and follow-up action has been taken, especially counselling. Both perpetrators and victims will be given proper guidance and counselling,” said Lim.

“We are committed to reducing the number of cases,” she said in response to Datuk Muhammad Bakhtiar Wan Chik (PH-Balik Pulau).

Muhammad Bakhtiar had also asked the ministry on the steps taken to curb school bullying cases.

In response, Lim said that the Education Ministry has launched a guideline on managing misconduct in educational institutions and added that this includes bullying.

“This guideline serves as a reference for all stakeholders in educational institutions in explaining the misconduct and its implications as well as their roles in the management of bullying especially towards the perpetrators and victims,” she said.

She also said that schools are also collaborating with the police through liaison officers and anti-bullying programmes.

She also said that the ministry has also set up a complaint portal that allows students, parents and other members of a school to file reports directly with the ministry.

Lim said the information of the reports will be made discreet and the complaints could also be filed through the Public Complaints Management System (Sispaa), email, telephone and WhatsApp.

“The ministry also provides counselling for children who have a tendency to commit misconduct against other children,” she added.

The Deputy Minister also said that the ministry is committed to add more counsellors in schools to help curb the issue.