Kuala lumpur: Bullying must be addressed decisively as part of broader efforts to ensure schools, homes, workplaces, and digital spaces are safe for every child and adult, said Alliance for a Safe Community chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye. He highlighted recent incidents of violence, bullying, sexual abuse, online exploitation, and emotional harm as indicators of the urgent need for stronger protection and collective action.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Lee stated that safety is not merely the absence of crime but the presence of dignity, respect, and protection. He emphasized that every child has the right to grow, learn, and play without fear, and every adult has the right to work, communicate, and live free from harassment, abuse, and exploitation. He warned that when spaces become unsafe, trust collapses and long-term harm follows.

Lee stressed that schools should be sanctuaries, not sources of trauma, advocating for zero tolerance against bullying, sexual misconduct, abuse of power, and violence. He called for schools to have trained counsellors, mandatory reporting systems, and child-protection officers ready to act swiftly to safeguard at-risk students. He also emphasized the importance of training teachers and school leaders to identify signs of distress, grooming, and abuse, insisting that silence and cover-ups should not protect reputations at the expense of children.

Regarding homes, Lee highlighted that family violence, neglect, and emotional abuse often go unseen because they occur behind closed doors. He called for better parenting education, mental health support, and stress-management tools for parents and caregivers, while encouraging neighbours, teachers, and health workers to feel empowered and legally protected to report suspected abuse without fear of reprisal.

Lee addressed bullying in the workplace, noting that behaviors such as bullying, sexual harassment, intimidation, and exploitation are violations of human rights, not part of 'office culture.' He urged organizations to establish clear codes of conduct, confidential reporting channels, and independent investigation procedures to enable workers to speak up without fear.

Lee also cautioned about the growing exposure to digital threats for both children and adults, including cyberbullying, scams, sexual predators, grooming, extremist content, and psychological manipulation. He stressed the need for stronger platform accountability, effective content moderation, digital literacy education, and parental guidance tools, as laws alone are insufficient without a combination of enforcement, technology, and public awareness.

Calling for a whole-of-society approach, Lee urged the government, schools, employers, parents, technology companies, and NGOs to collaborate in strengthening laws, improving mental health services, and holding offenders accountable. He concluded by stressing the importance of not normalizing cruelty, silence, and fear, and that a safe society is built by speaking up, acting early, and standing with victims, ultimately striving for a compassionate and just society.