SANDAKAN: The heartbreaking death of Zara Qairina Mahathir has exposed Malaysia’s silent bullying epidemic, revealing how often we dismiss this destructive behaviour as normal childhood experience rather than recognizing it as the serious threat it truly is.
“It is not normal, and it is not a phase. It is a serious threat to our children’s well-being that remains dangerously overlooked in our society,” Mohina Sidom, Tongod Children’s Welfare Task Force chairperson, said on Friday.
Many carry memories of bullying – as victims, witnesses, or even participants. Recalling a painful example, Mohina shares, “I remember a classmate mercilessly teased after getting her first period. What began as skipped school days became a permanent departure from education – all because of what others called ‘harmless teasing.’ “This experience, she notes, illustrates how “seemingly small actions can completely dismantle a young person’s self-worth.”
Having endured lewd comments about her appearance in boarding school, Mohina acknowledges that while she found strength to confront her tormentors, “not everyone possesses that resilience. The damage can be permanent, which is why we must create environments where every child feels safe and valued.”
“The responsibility to end this cycle falls squarely on all of us. This demands our collective response – parents must engage and intervene early, while schools must implement comprehensive anti-bullying programmes with proper teacher training and safe reporting systems. Student welfare must become our education system’s highest priority,” she emphasized.
“Zara’s tragedy calls us beyond condemnation to concrete action. We owe it to her and every silent victim to transform our outrage into environments where such cruelty cannot thrive. The time for change is now,” Mohina concluded. – James Leong
