KUCHING: Society has a shared responsibility to create safe environments where every child and teenager in Sarawak can grow without fear, shame or harm, says Persatuan Pembangunan Insan Sarawak (PPIS) President, Manjeet Kaur Sidhu.
Manjeet, who also founded the Dawn Hope Shelter for Teenagers, said bullying should never be dismissed as a “phase” as it can leave lasting emotional scars on victims.
Despite national campaigns such as #SayNoToBully and #EndBullyingNow, she said bullying cases in both urban and rural areas remain underreported due to stigma, fear of retaliation and cultural attitudes that normalise such behaviour.
“Our organisation has seen cases through both direct shelter admissions and community outreach programmes.
“The most common forms involve verbal bullying such as name-calling, humiliation and rumours; social bullying such as exclusion and isolation, especially against young mothers and B40 children; and cyberbullying, including public shaming, fake accounts and online threats.
“Physical bullying also occurs, though less frequently,” she told Sarawak Tribune.
Manjeet said PPIS and Dawn Hope Shelter for Teenagers have taken targeted steps to address the problem, including awareness talks in schools and communities, safe space counselling for victims, peer support networks and collaborations with government agencies.
She said the organisations have also carried out digital literacy campaigns to promote responsible online use and counter cyberbullying.
Despite these efforts, Manjeet said challenges persist, including cultural silence and the perception that bullying is “normal”, fear of retaliation and limited access to rural areas.
“There is also a shortage of trained counsellors in schools and community centres, and cyberbullying spreads rapidly while legal redress remains slow,” she added.
As such, PPIS and Dawn Hope Shelter for Teenagers are urging the government, authorities and schools to enforce clear anti-bullying policies in all schools with safe, confidential reporting channels, and to increase the number of trained counsellors in both urban and rural areas.
They are also calling for anti-bullying education to be integrated into the school curriculum from an early age, and for stronger collaboration with the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) and law enforcement on cyberbullying cases.
They further urged greater engagement of parents, community leaders and religious heads in awareness efforts.
“Provide long-term rehabilitation and confidence-building programmes for victims.
“As a society, we have a shared responsibility to create safe environments where every child and teenager in Sarawak can grow without fear, shame, or harm,” Manjeet stressed.
