Rawang school bullying video tests the new Anti-Bullying Act

A secondary school student in Rawang was repeatedly punched and kneed while classmates watched and recorded. The video has gone viral on social media, drawing public outrage and triggering a police investigation.

The assault took place at a school in Rawang, Selangor. The victim fell near a drain during the attack. One student recorded the entire incident while others watched and taunted the victim. The video circulated widely on Twitter before spreading to other platforms.

The incident has drawn particular attention because of its timing. Malaysia’s Anti-Bullying Act 2026 came into full force on 16 June — less than four weeks ago. The Rawang case is already shaping up to be one of its first major public tests.

What the authorities have said on the bullying

The Selangor Education Department issued a statement saying it takes the matter seriously. “We will not compromise on any form of misconduct that could affect the safety and wellbeing of students. No one will be protected. Stern action will be taken against anyone found responsible, in accordance with existing regulations,” the department said.

Police are actively investigating the case. The Selangor Education Department said it is giving full cooperation to the investigation. It urged the public to respect the process.

The department did not name the school involved — standard practice in cases where minors are implicated. No arrests have been publicly announced as of the time of writing.

Both the education department and police are treating this as a serious matter. Neither is handling it as a routine disciplinary issue. That framing signals the intent to apply the full force of the law to the case.

What Malaysia’s new Anti-Bullying Act provides

Parliament passed the Anti-Bullying Act 2026 on 3 December 2025. His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia signed it on 10 January 2026. It came into force on 16 June 2026. Malaysia is the first country in the region to establish a dedicated restorative justice system for bullying cases.

The Act created a specialist tribunal headed by Tribunal President Nurul Husna Awang. It has 56 members — experts in education and child welfare. It hears complaints from victims and issues binding orders against bullies and their parents.

The tribunal’s powers are wide. It can order a bully to apologise in writing and go for counselling. It can also order them to take down any videos or posts linked to the incident. Parents can be ordered to attend parenting classes. Victims can receive up to RM250,000 in compensation.

The Act makes parents jointly responsible when their child is found to have bullied someone. The family can face financial and legal consequences. Minister Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said said the goal is not just punishment. Bullies get the chance to change. Victims get justice.

The bystander problem the law has not yet addressed

The Rawang video raises a question the Act does not fully answer. The student who recorded the assault is not the one who threw the punches. But whoever shared the recording spread it widely on social media. Thousands of people viewed the victim’s assault. That sharing adds to the harm.

Current provisions in the Act target the perpetrator and, in some cases, the parents. There is no specific provision addressing bystanders who record and share bullying incidents. The Malaysian Bar’s Child Rights Committee praised the law as the best mechanism to address bullying. It also noted the government’s recognition that the scope may need to expand.

The Rawang case makes that gap visible. Seven or eight students were present during the assault. One recorded. The rest taunted. The school can still take disciplinary action under existing rules. But the Act’s civil tribunal route is only available to the direct victim against the direct perpetrator.

They will also signal whether bystander conduct will be covered in future amendments. The first cases the tribunal hears will set the tone for how seriously Malaysia enforces the Act.

The Act now gives parents a formal avenue beyond the school’s own disciplinary process. Complaints can be lodged with the tribunal, which operates independently of the school system.

Every school must now set up an anti-bullying committee by law. This committee takes in complaints, looks into them and tries to resolve them. If your child’s school has not told you how to reach it, ask.

The Education Ministry can check whether schools are following the rules. It reports its findings to SUHAKAM, Malaysia’s Human Rights Commission. SUHAKAM must also report to Parliament each year on how schools are handling bullying across the country.

For the Rawang victim and family, the police investigation represents the criminal law track. The tribunal represents the civil track. Both can run simultaneously. The family does not have to choose one or the other