This write-up was published in the Sun on 17 Oct 2024 pg.10
Bullying in schools, workplaces, and on social media has been increasingly highlighted in recent headlines. Is this issue more rampant now? Not necessarily. Bullying has long been a significant problem, but increased awareness and expanded reporting platforms have brought it more into the spotlight. Social media, in particular, has extended bullying beyond traditional environments, allowing cyberbullying to occur anytime and anywhere. This makes it more pervasive, persistent, and harder to escape, which can give the impression that bullying is more common today.
Bullying is often viewed as a social
malaise, but it is actually both a social and psychological problem, involving
complex interactions between individual behavior and societal dynamics. Its
causes are multifaceted, including power imbalances, social hierarchies, and
psychological factors like insecurity, aggression, or a desire for control.
Women and girls, especially, are often disproportionately affected by bullying,
typically by men in positions of power. Factors like power dynamics and
psychological motivations often contribute to this behavior, where traditional
gender roles and societal norms perpetuate male dominance. Men who bully women often
have underlying psychological issues such as low self-esteem, a need for
validation, or past experiences of abuse. These issues can drive them to
project their insecurities onto others, particularly women they perceive as
vulnerable.
In Malaysia, school and workplace
bullying are handled by the Ministry of Education and other relevant ministries
and government agencies, while cyberbullying is addressed by the Malaysian
Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC). Despite these efforts,
improvements in policies and enforcement are needed to more effectively address
bullying in all its forms.
One overlooked area is perhaps bullying
within private sports and social clubs, as well as thousands of societies/associations
such as Residents’ Associations; including political parties and NGOs, all of
which come under the purview of the Registrar of Societies (ROS) in the
Ministry of Home Affairs. These entities play an important role in community
bonding, but bullying can lead to divisions and a less cohesive community. Addressing
bullying in these settings will foster healthier communities and reinforces
positive social standards.
A recent case of blatant bullying of
a lady member through abuse of power by its leadership in a prominent sports
and social club of Royal status in the Klang Valley has underscored the need
for ROS to take a more proactive role in ensuring good governance in clubs to curb
this bullying issue. Bullying within a club, particularly when involving
individuals in authority/power who selectively enforce rules or apply
discriminatory punishments, -- to the extent of breaching club constitutional
rules to impose a wrongful conviction -- undermines the integrity of the club
and alienates members. The Societies
Act provides a framework for overseeing club activities, but enhancements to
this oversight could offer better protection to members, especially if good
governance based on the rule of laws is emphasized. Suggestions include:
1. Strengthen Oversight and
Monitoring Mechanisms
Enhanced Reporting Systems: ROS could
implement a reporting mechanism (much like the ADU@KL of DBKL) where members
can complain and report instances of bullying, discrimination, or unfair
treatment without fear of retaliation. This would allow issues to be addressed
at an early stage before they escalate to legal suits in court.
Regular Audits and Inspections: ROS
could conduct more frequent and unannounced audits of clubs -- especially for those
with a track record or history of disputes and court cases with members --
focusing on compliance with constitutional rules and byelaws. Audits could
include reviews of how rules are enforced and whether there is evidence of
discrimination or bias.
External Ombudsman: Establishing an
independent ombudsman for clubs and societies could provide a neutral party to
whom grievances can be reported. This role could ensure that all complaints are
investigated fairly and that corrective actions are taken in a timely manner.
2. Clearer Guidelines on Governance
and Accountability
Transparent Rule Enforcement: ROS
could mandate that clubs provide clear, written policies on how rules are
enforced, including specific criteria for punishments and disciplinary actions.
This would help ensure that enforcement is consistent and fair. In the case
cited above, the lady member was punished disproportionately with 3 months’
suspension and RM 500 fine based on a wrongful conviction. This double
punishment is rare and unprecedented in the club, and is widely perceived by
club members as a case of bullying, selective prosecution and victimization.
Mandatory Training for Club
Officials: Implementing mandatory training for club officials on ethical
leadership, anti-bullying, and anti-discrimination practices would help foster
a more inclusive environment. This training could be required by ROS as part of
the process for elected or appointed club positions.
Governance Audits: Periodic governance
audits by ROS could assess the fairness and transparency of decision-making
processes within clubs. These audits could be used to evaluate the extent to
which officials adhere to ethical governance standards and rules of law.
3. Enhanced Legal Recourse and
Enforcement
Stronger Legal Consequences for
Misconduct: ROS could work with legal authorities to establish clearer legal
consequences for club officials who engage in bullying or discriminatory
practices. This could include penalties for clubs and individual officials that
fail to take action against bullying or are themselves involved in bullying!
Empowered Mediation and Arbitration
Services: Offering mediation and arbitration services through ROS could provide
a formal pathway for resolving disputes between members and leadership. This
could be an alternative to legal action, providing a quicker, less costly way
to address grievances.
In conclusion, it goes without
saying that regular reviews of the Societies Act would help keep governance
practices of clubs and societies up-to-date with current challenges, including
the issues of bullying. This review process could include input from members of
the public, legal experts, and civil society to ensure a broad perspective on
needed updates.