KOTA KINABALU, Sept 6 — Students who face bullying are urged to come forward immediately and report the incidents to their teachers, parents and authorities.

State Education Department deputy director (student development sector) Muddin Beting stressed that victims of abuse must stand firm on the truth and justice to prevent their peers from suffering the same fate in the future.

“Get help urgently so that justice can be done.

“And do not, at any time, bully, abuse or demean your schoolmates,” he said in officiating at the ‘Kesedaran Aerobeat Bully 2026’ programme carried out by the National Consumer Action Council (MTPN) Sabah here on Sunday.

According to Muddin, schools are supposed to be where human capital is developed and thus, students should not attend school with feelings of worry for their safety due to the risk of abuse and bullying.

Adding on, he said the Education Department commended MTPN Sabah for organising the anti-bullying programme, which he hoped would bring positive results throughout the state.

In this respect, he gave assurance that the department would continue supporting the council in running similar programmes in the future.

Meanwhile, MTPN Sabah Youth chairman Calvin Choo stressed that all students have the right to feel safe at all times.

“We want to share the message that the threat of bullying does not have any place in schools, or in the community.

“We want students to understand that they must be brave, and come forward and help their friends to tell the truth when something negative happens.

“I hope that the participants of the programme will share the message to their peers in their respective schools,” said Choo.

Also present were MTPN Sabah chairman cum national MTPN vice-president Kevin Lo and the council’s legal advisor Chin Tek Ming. — The Borneo Post

* If you are lonely, distressed, or having negative thoughts, Befrienders offers free and confidential support 24 hours a day. A full list of Befrienders contact numbers and state operating hours is available here: www.befrienders.org.my/centre-in-malaysia. There are also free hotlines for young people: Talian Kasih at 15999 (24/7); Talian BuddyBear at 1800-18-2327(BEAR)(daily 12pm-12am); Mental Health Psychosocial Support Service (03-2935 9935 or 014-322 3392); and Jakim’s Family, Social and Community Care Centre (WhatsApp 0111-959 8214).