Anti-bullying tribunal: how much power should quasi-courts have?
From Liew Li Xuan
When the Anti-Bullying Tribunal Bill was tabled by law and institutional reform minister Azalina Othman Said, much of the public attention focused on the promise of better protection for young people.
But the Bill also introduces a legal structure that deserves deeper scrutiny.
The anti-bullying tribunal is not just a support mechanism. It is a quasi-judicial body with powers that resemble that of a court, but without the same safeguards and procedures that courts traditionally uphold.
Malaysia has several existing tribunals that resolve disputes more quickly than the courts. The anti-bullying tribunal follows this model, but the stakes are higher because it will handle cases involving minors, parents, educators, and institutions.
It is designed to be accessible and fast, but this simplicity comes with risks.
A tribunal is not a court. Yet there are provisions in the Bill to allow it to make serious findings, issue compensation orders, mandate counselling, and…
