TAKING A STAND AGAINST BULLIES
Public service centre and police to launch anti-bullying campaign
IN light of recent bullying cases nationwide, the National Public Complaints and Welfare Service Centre (PAR) has initiated a programme to put a stop to the problem.
PAR chairman Datuk A. Chandrakumanan said they were cooperating with the police to organise a “Say No to Bullying” campaign, which was expected to be launched by Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar on Aug 10.
The campaign will focus on students aged 11 to 16.
“The aim is to ensure that teenagers are not involved in negative practices, such as bullying, anti-social activities and gangsterism.
“The centre, along with the police and Education Ministry, aim to reduce the children’s involvement in such activities with the launch of the programme,” he said yesterday.
With the launch of the programme next week, a task force dubbed the Anti-Bully Task Force will also be set up, comprising PAR members, police and Education Ministry staff.
The task force will identify students who are involved in negative activities, and will be responsible for guiding the teenagers and helping them to become better and more disciplined individuals.
This will be done through etiquette lessons and by encouraging their interests.
“PAR has been given the mandate to get information on the list of troubled schools from the police,” he said, adding that the information would be included in a database to enable them to monitor the youths’ activities.
A website under the centre’s purview aiming on bullying cases would also be launched on Aug 10.
The website will enable teenagers to lodge complaints should they become victims of bullying.
Chandrakumanan said the programme would first focus on 960 students from 117 schools in the Federal Territory before extending it to other states.