KUALA LUMPUR, Sept. 4 -- Malaysia has recorded a sharp rise in school bullying cases over the past four years, prompting renewed calls for legal reform and preventive measures.

According to CNA, the Ministry of Education reported 7,681 bullying cases in 2024, up from 6,528 in 2023, 3,887 in 2022, and just 326 in 2021.

Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek said in Parliament on August 27 that 5,689 of the cases involved secondary school students, while 1,992 involved primary school students.

"We have always taken this issue seriously, but even more so with the recent cases," said Farhana, a discipline teacher in Johor Bahru who requested to be identified only by her first name.

She noted that more students are now reporting bullying to sch...