Stakeholders will be convened to discusss and clarify the regulations concerning bullying, as announced by Fadhlina
Justice for Zara: Malaysian Education Ministry Responds to Student Activists' Demands
The #JusticeForZara movement, sparked by the tragic death of 13-year-old Zara Qairina Mahathir in July 2025, continues to gain momentum across Malaysia. The public outcry and social media support, exceeding 114,000 posts, have not gone unnoticed, with celebrities such as Malaysian icon Siti Nurhaliza expressing solidarity with the cause.
Following the widespread concern, the Malaysian Education Ministry has received a memorandum from the movement, outlining four demands focused on bullying reform and school safety. In response, Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek acknowledged the memorandum and met with student activists to discuss these concerns.
The ministry has pledged comprehensive reforms, including safety audits in schools, improved bullying complaint mechanisms, a safety reform committee, strict disciplinary actions for bullies such as suspension or expulsion, and enhanced psychosocial support for students. Additionally, the ministry has agreed to hold engagement sessions with students and civil society groups to develop clear standard operating procedures for handling bullying cases, aiming for transparency and collaborative improvement.
One of the demands from the memorandum that the ministry is responding to is the call for mandatory training on crisis intervention and management for those in charge of educational institutions. The ministry has expressed its commitment to enhancing training aspects for school administrators, teachers, and wardens to prepare them to meet the challenges posed by bullies.
The ministry's previously announced measures to enhance safety at all educational institutions still stand. These include conducting safety audits, improving the bullying complaint system, setting up a safety reform committee, taking stern action against bullies, and strengthening psychosocial support. The ministry also welcomes the police's special task force for the investigation of Zara Qairina Mahathir's death in Sabah and is giving its full cooperation to the police in the investigation.
About 50 activists marched from Tugu Negara to the Parliament gate, demanding a comprehensive reform of the national education system, particularly in relation to the bullying issue. The ministry has not yet announced any new measures specifically in relation to Zara's death but has emphasised its commitment to addressing the broader issue of bullying in schools.
As the movement continues to gain traction, the ministry remains open to views and suggestions to improve existing guidelines and ensure that all educational institutions under its purview are prepared to provide a safe and bully-free environment for students.
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