'Set up task force to combat bullying'

The government has been urged to set up a task force to focus on the elements of social and emotional management needed to combat the problem of bullying.

The Malaysian Psychological Association president (PSIMA) Assoc. Prof Dr Rozmi Ismail said the task force should look for a solution to the problem and the members should have expertise in counselling and psychology.

"We have many counselling and psychology experts in the country, so a study on the bullying scenario should be carried out with education officers as well as others to find a solution," he told Bernama.

Rozmi said the element of social management was aimed at providing social skills where students were given short courses on the correct communication skills.

"Through this social skills module, students will learn the correct social action of communicating by sitting down to discuss problems," he said.

Last Tuesday, a video showing nine students being attacked by other students at a hostel went viral on social websites while another video appeared several days later showing a teenage boy being assaulted by several others at an orphanage hostel.