Bullying and other social ills in the country to come under the microscope

KUALA LUMPUR: All ministries, agencies and nongovernmental organisations under the purview of the National Social Council will be submitting their reports by January on social ills in the country and recommendations to tackle them, said Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Rohani Abd Karim.

She said that based on the reports, a more concrete definition of bullying will be formulated that will encompass the acts which can be classified as bullying.

“From the reports, a database on bullying cases will be created.

“Bullying cases must be given serious attention because it can lead to gangsterism and criminal cases later,” she when opening the ‘Disability : We Care’ conference at Universiti Teknologi MARA Sungai Buloh Campus’ Dental Faculty here.

Besides her ministry, the agencies and NGOs, various other ministries, the Royal Malaysia Police and the Malaysian Crime Prevention Foundation are also members of the council.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi after chairing a meeting of the council on Friday said the government will be implementing four key measures to tackle bullying including classifying acts which meet the definition of bullying.

The meeting also decided that the social agenda must be deliberated at the state executive council and district council levels.

On another matter, Rohani suggested that insurance companies also cover the mental aspects to help alleviate the financial burden of policy holders who face mental health problems.

“If the mental health aspects can be included in insurance policies, it might help those who face mental problems, especially in terms of treatment and medicine,” she said.

Some 300 students and staff of the faculty attended the conference which focused on care for people with disabilities. — Bernama