Bullying Has No Place Here: Sultan’s Warning as Brunei Counts the Toll on Its Youth
"Is your child really safe in school? 447 bullying cases were recorded in Brunei last year. His Majesty says bullying has no place in our culture — but are we doing enough?”
KopiTalk with MHO
By Malai Hassan Othman
His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaullah, the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Negara Brunei Darussalam, recently made it clear in his Titah Maulidul Rasul 2025 that bullying and bad behaviour among young people have no place in Brunei.
The monarch emphasised that this kind of behaviour doesn't fit our culture and called for better monitoring in schools, reminding everyone that the values of kindness, justice, and responsibility, as taught by the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), should guide how we raise the next generation.
The Sultan's message comes as Brunei deals with the ongoing issue of bullying in schools.
According to Education Minister Datin Seri Setia Dr. Hajah Romaizah binti Haji Mohd Salleh, there were 447 reported cases of bullying in 2024, down from 734 in 2023. The Minister shared with the Legislative Council that out of the 2024 cases, 292 involved boys and 155 involved girls. She also mentioned that seven cases were reported at higher education institutions between 2022 and 2024. While it’s good to see some improvement, these numbers are still concerning because each case represents a child suffering from peer cruelty.
In response, the Ministry has rolled out new tools and stricter rules. Notification Letter No. 2/2025 now lays out how schools should handle bullying, gang behaviour, and drugs.
Disciplinary actions can range from suspensions of five to ten days, parental counselling, and community service, with ongoing monitoring. Programs like the BEST (Bantu, Empati, Sayangi, Tanggungjawab) campaign are now regular features, and the G.I.N.I.S. program, which was introduced in 31 secondary schools and involved nearly 4,000 students in 2024, offers more intensive help. Evaluations show positive results, with many participants feeling that the program helps reduce negative influences.
However, these stats point to deeper issues. The Minister noted that many bullying cases come from kids who have been exposed to aggressive behaviour at home, poor discipline, lack of religious values, or peer groups that normalise cruelty. These root causes remind us that schools are just one part of the bigger picture, and families and communities need to be involved in finding solutions.
Events outside of Brunei highlight the seriousness of this issue. In July 2025, 13-year-old Zara Qairina Mahathir from Sabah died after an incident believed to be linked to bullying, sparking national outrage in Malaysia with thousands demanding justice. Although this tragedy wasn’t mentioned in Brunei’s Parliament or His Majesty’s titah, it serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of unchecked bullying.
It’s not just isolated incidents that matter. The Global School-Based Student Health Survey (2019) found that nearly 24 per cent of Bruneian students aged 13 to 17 reported being bullied at least once in the past month, up from 21 per cent in 2014. This survey highlights what many parents already suspect: bullying is common and often goes unreported.
The timeline is revealing. In July, a tragedy in Sabah brought the dangers to light. In August, Brunei’s Legislative Council discussed changes to the Child and Young Persons Act (Cap. 219), with Yang Berhormat Dayang Hajah Safiah binti Sheikh Haji Abd. Salam is advocating for reforms to address physical bullying as well as digital exploitation and psychological abuse.
The Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports confirmed that efforts are being made to strengthen the Act and enhance the National Framework on Child Protection (NFCP), supported by protocols for early detection, consistent reporting, and a review of the Child Online Protection Framework from 2013. In September, His Majesty set a cultural and moral boundary, stating that bullying is something Brunei must never accept.
The concern is now fully acknowledged. But parents are still asking important questions: How soon will the changes to Cap. 219 happen? Do schools have enough counsellors and the ability to intervene effectively? And most importantly, will children be heard before it’s too late?
The Sultan has spoken clearly. Parliament is aware of the issue. The government has promised reforms. Now it’s up to the entire nation - families, schools, communities, and institutions - to turn these commitments into real protections. The youth aren’t just students; they are Brunei’s future. Protecting them from bullying isn’t optional anymore; it’s a must. (MHO/09/2025)
Wealth and image over compassion and kindness.. hypocrites.. which is why they get low grade level opportunistic predatory people who don’t fear them because they know anything goes.. which is very embarrassing since they invited these people to their land and no they don’t even have respect and insult them on their own land.. who have lost all their values because they are seeking to be western and looking for western approval..
I have seen too many morally corrupt leaders and so they set the standard by what they allow and promote .. so that is my lived experience and something unfortunately can never change and I will never see in my lifetime, having lived and seen it, I know that I made the right decision for me, I have gone enough times to these countries to see what they value and what they overlook. It starts at the top!!
Specialist in Microfinance Social Enterprise
1wBullying is a social ill that spreads everywhere in this immoral world in which we all live. I thought it was only New Zealand, but now it's far beyond that after my family and I came back from Brunei in May 2012 and settled down in Palmerston North. Having lived in Brunei from 2006-2012, Islam has rituals and has no impact on the society, and as a way of life, it is not it is similar to everywhere. In Brunei, there is no role model in the community; those in power are living in a different world called "Instant gratification" without any fear from Allah S.W that death can happen at any moment, and Allah will ask him or her a very hard questions where you spend the money, is it to bring happiness for others who are suffering too much or own desire. The day of judgement is very hard, and we all will pass through that. Surely many are not ready for that; they think, let's enjoy life to a large extent, but for how long? If these young generation can't find role model, they are going to find one on social media, and they will start to do everything in life. This is why bullying is a reflection of social ills in society. Here in New Zealand our society is sick and many children are coming from dysfunctional families background
I agree cruelty is rife in some Islamic communities, which makes people leave the religion, which is awful and also makes people never want to visit those countries again