Don’t Hide Bullying to Protect School Reputation, Anwar Tells Educators

PUTRAJAYA, July 28 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has reiterated a stern reminder to school administrators and teachers not to conceal cases of bullying or physical abuse under the guise of protecting their institution’s reputation or academic standing.

Speaking at a gathering with Ministry of Education staff here today, Anwar stressed that covering up incidents of bullying only exacerbates systemic harm, allowing minor misconduct to develop into serious, unaddressed injustices.

“The injustice starts there (bullying and violence). Violent, hasty and cruel actions start there. That is why, at the initial stage, the matter must be corrected no matter how big or small,” Anwar said.

Addressing principals and headmasters directly, the Prime Minister urged school leaders to maintain total transparency when dealing with reports of student abuse, cautioning them against treating public disclosures as a mark of institutional failure.

Anwar emphasized that an incident of bullying within a school does not mean the institution has failed as a whole, but rather serves as an operational issue requiring immediate, decisive action.

“If a principal chooses to disclose it, I respect them because they are not trying to protect the school’s image or performance, or avoid negative perceptions,” Anwar noted.

The Prime Minister reiterated that student welfare, character development, and zero tolerance for physical or psychological abuse must remain core priorities across all national learning institutions.

-NMT