She said the tribunal’s chairman and deputy chairman began carrying out their duties yesterday.

“On June 16, we will officially launch the tribunal, which will operate both physically and online,” she said at a press conference after an event here.

The tribunal was established following the passage of the Anti-Bullying Bill in Parliament last December.

The bill is a comprehensive legislative initiative aimed at creating a safer educational environment free from bullying.

Among other things, it introduces a dedicated mechanism for receiving complaints, preventing bullying, and managing bullying incidents in educational institutions and other designated institutions.

Under the law, an anti-bullying tribunal has the jurisdiction to hear and decide bullying-related complaints, providing a faster, fairer and more structured avenue for resolution.

Previously, Azalina had said that the law would initially apply to individuals aged 18 and below.

She added that the tribunal would have the power to order respondents – or, in cases involving child respondents, their parents or guardians – to pay compensation or damages of up to RM250,000 for losses or harm suffered by victims as a result of bullying.

This is intended to serve as a preventive measure, as responsibility for children’s behaviour cannot be placed entirely on schools or teachers.

The tribunal may also order parents or guardians to attend counselling sessions or parenting support programmes provided by government agencies together with child respondents.