The Raja Permaisuri Agong, Raja Zarith Sofiah, has expressed deep concern over the rising prevalence of bullying in Malaysian schools, describing it as a disturbing trend that has become an entrenched and widespread problem.
In a statement on her official blog, Her Majesty highlighted that schools and universities should be safe spaces for children. “Educational institutions, including universities, should be places where our children feel secure. Yet, the reality is that these spaces have become a nightmare for students who fall victim to peer bullying,” she said.
Raja Zarith Sofiah noted that many victims remain silent to protect their friends from becoming the next targets. “In a conversation with an acquaintance, I learned that students often hesitate to reveal the identity of their bullies because they want to shield their peers. Reporting the bully could put their friends at risk, so they choose to stay silent,” she added.
The Raja Permaisuri Agong also reflected on past tragedies, citing the deaths of Zulfarhan Osman Zulkifli from burns and T Nhaveen from George Town due to internal head injuries in 2017—both victims of bullying. “Both were victims of bullying,” she emphasized.
Her Majesty questioned whether society only pays attention to bullying when it affects their own children. “Must another teenager or young adult suffer and die before we say ‘enough’? How many more parents and families must endure the heartbreak of losing a loved one?” she asked.
Raja Zarith Sofiah stressed that it is time for these questions to be answered if Malaysia truly wants to be recognized as a compassionate society. She urged that children, teens, and young adults should never fear going to school or university because of bullying, and parents should not be burdened with constant worries about their children’s safety.
“It is our shared responsibility as a society to ensure that every life lost to bullying does not end in vain,” Her Majesty concluded.
