IN March 2016, several primary school students forced their schoolmate to cut off the top of his tongue. Just last month, a Form Two student suffered a broken leg after he was assaulted by schoolmates in Negeri Sembilan. A heated argument between the students turned violent, where the victim was thrown to the ground which resulted to a broken leg.

Who can forget the tragic case of 11-year old Mohamad Thaqif, who was systematically abused by his school warden which resulted to doctors amputating both of his legs. Unfortunately, the boy passed away from his injuries a few days after the news broke out which catapulted questions raised by concerned citizens and especially parents who have entrusted schools to safeguard the safety of their children.

These cases are only the tip of the iceberg. It’s assumed that many more go unreported or are conveniently swept under the rug by authorities who do not wish to mar their school’s reputation. In addition to this, the lack of clear regulations do absolutely nothing to prevent the wave of bullying that is seemingly becoming more rampant and gut-wrenching.

We know that bullying is a specific form of aggression which can lead to both physical and mental damage. Bullying is unacceptable and society must play a role in not simply shrugging it off when our children complain about the horrors they are forced to endure.

The definition of bullying adopted by psychologists is physical or verbal abuse, repeated over time, and involving a power imbalance. It stems from insecurities where one person feels the need to assert a higher social status over another person. It is very much about power and making the victim feel miserable. It is a repetitive act and it is extremely unhealthy.

When bad things happen to our children, we still end up presenting confusing narratives that prevents us from truly identifying why our children act the way they do and why schools seem powerless or disinclined to take action.

In the case of Mohamad Thaqif, the school was exempted from responsibility, although, the warden who was responsible for the abuse was arrested. Interestingly enough, authorities discovered a not so stellar record of criminal theft and a considerable amount of prison time. This discovery alone highlighted the debacle surrounding how our schools employ those who will be dealing and handling our children.

It is always a tragedy when the bullying victims pass away from their injuries and a greater tragedy when authoritative figures (i.e. parents, schools, etc) fail to prevent such cases from repeating themselves.

Recently, the Education Ministry revealed that between 2012 and 2015, there were more than 14,000 cases of bullying in schools, where a majority of these cases were physical. Based on National Health and Morbidity Survey 2015, bullying among students occurs almost every day, as a result more youngsters are now suffering from mental health problems. The survey revealed that about 4.2 million Malaysians aged 16 and above suffered from mental problems; 84% of children in Malaysia suffer from some form of bullying, with 33% having been bullied online.

Bullying is a problem that everyone should address. Understanding what bullying means to children and how it affects them are essential factors that can lead to successful prevention but it is equally crucial for adults (both in schools and society) to set the narrative and tone.

There are those amongst us who may believe that bullying is a child’s rite of passage; well, it is not and never will be. When we see an overassertive child assert his power over a victim, we need to respond quickly and accordingly. We need to listen to our children and ensure that we are on their side. – September 2, 2017.

* Syerleena is a councillor at the Penang Island City Council (MBPP). She is a Malaysian who believes that our life experiences shape us into fascinating beings.

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.