KUALA LUMPUR, June 13 — The Home Ministry and the Education Ministry need to treat bullying complaints with greater seriousness and urgency, DAP assemblyman Hannah Yeoh said today.

Yeoh who is also Selangor Speaker was weighing in on a case of extreme bullying in Penang that left an 18-year-old, T. Nhaveen, brain dead.

“Two of the bullies have been reported to be the former school mates of the teenager and alleged to have bullied the teenager in school before. I would like to believe that the brutal assault on Nhaveen could have been prevented if action had been taken earlier.

“I call upon the Home Ministry and the Education Ministry to ensure that every complaint and/or police report related to bullying is investigated. Action must be taken and stern warning must be given to aggressors of bully incidents,” the Subang Jaya state assemblywoman said in a statement.

She also urged schools to take on a more proactive role to nip bullying cases as early as possible rather than stay passive for fear their ratings may be affected.

“Schools play a critical role in stopping bullying. I urge the school authorities to report and investigate thoroughly every bully incident that comes to their attention and ‘not sweep them under the carpet with the fear that it may affect school rating’, nor opt the easy way out of transferring victims/culprits to another school.

“Roll out and enforce zero-tolerance programs making it clear that bullying in any form will not be tolerated; and deploy sufficient resources to equip our schools and teachers with necessary tools, skills and counselling facilities to deal with the rising number of bully incidents,” the vice-chair of Wanita DAP added.

Yeoh also urged Parent-Teacher Association to have regular meetings with the institutions, and demand for transparent accounts, should there be any complaints of bullying lodged by both parents or students.

Nhaveen and his friend T. Previin, 19, were reported to have beaten up by two schoolmates following a disagreement at a burger stall in Gelugor, Penang last Saturday morning.

Previin managed to escape but Nhaveen was brutalised after the attackers called for backup from five others. Nhaveen had burn marks on his back and his anus was torn.

The seriously injured and unconscious Nhaveen was later sent to the hospital by a brother of one of the suspected attackers. Doctors have since pronounced him brain dead while Previin has been hospitalised for a head injury.

Five people aged between 16 and 18, including two fifth formers, have been arrested for investigation under Section 148 of the Penal Code for rioting with weapons, which is punishable with jail up to five years, a fine, or both; as well as the more serious Section 377CA of the same law, for sexual connection with an object and punishable with a jail term of at least five years and up to 30, and whipping.