Parent Action Group for Education (PAGE), Chairman Noor Azimah Rahim said alternative measures should be considered so the education and future of those caught bullying would not be jeopardised.

“We need to look into why the bullies act the way they do, and whether they are facing trouble at home or if they have any other issues.

“There is no point in merely suspending them. They need to be monitored after the suspension.

“The government needs to think of a more positive alternative, which includes helping them focus on their studies and providing them with counselling,” Azimah told FMT today.

Azimah was commenting on the suggestion by Education Minister Mahdzir Khalid yesterday, to enforce a one-year suspension on students involved in bullying cases.

The minister explained the suggestion to suspend bullies stemmed from how serious bullying at schools had become and the need to urgently counter the problem.

Meanwhile, National Parent-Teacher Associations Consultative Council (PIBGN) Chairman Prof Mohamad Ali Hassan said one year was too long for suspension from school and suggested instead for the punishment to be reduced to six months.

“For the initial stages, six months would be enough and the effect would be sufficient,” he had said.