Facing Bullying & Harassment? This New Law Is Here To Protect You

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If you've noticed a rise in reported bullying cases in the news, it may be because a new law has officially made such acts a criminal offence

The government recently introduced amendments to the Penal Code under the Penal Code (Amendment) Act 2025 [Act A1750].

The Penal Code is Malaysia's primary criminal law, outlining offences and punishments. The amendment received royal assent on 25 February, was gazetted on 7 March, and came into effect on 11 July.

Under the amendment, harassment, threats, bullying, insults, and the misuse of identity information are now recognised as criminal offences, enabling police to investigate incidents that previously fell into legal grey areas.

Here are the provisions that criminalise those acts

The summaries of the provisions below were adapted from Aliran, a social justice and reform NGO:

Section 507B: Causing harassment, distress, fear or alarm

"Whoever, in any manner or by any means, uses or makes any threatening, abusive or insulting words or communication, or engages in any threatening, abusive or insulting act, with intent to cause, or knowing or ought to know that the words, communication or act are likely to cause harassment, distress, fear or alarm to a person, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years or with fine or with both."

• Summary: It criminalises threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour, whether in person or online, if they are intended – or known to be likely — to cause harassment, distress, fear, or alarm.
  
• Penalty: Up to three years' imprisonment, a fine, or both.

Section 507C: Causing harassment, distress, fear or alarm to a person likely to feel harassed, distressed, fear or alarmed

"Whoever, in any manner or by any means, uses or makes any threatening, abusive or insulting words or communication, or engages in any threatening, abusive or insulting act, and such words, communication or act are heard, seen or otherwise perceived by a person who is likely to feel harassed, distressed, fear or alarmed by such words, communication or act, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year or with fine or with both."

• Summary: Even if bullies do not intend harm, they can be liable if their words or actions are likely to make the victim feel distressed or alarmed. This includes cyber comments, messages, and posts. The law focuses on the effect on the victim.
  
• Penalty: Up to one year's imprisonment, a fine, or both.

Section 507D: Causing a person to believe that harm will be caused

"(1) Whoever, in any manner or by any means, uses or makes any threatening, abusive or insulting words or communication against any person, or engages in any threatening, abusive or insulting act towards any person, with intent to cause, or knowing or ought to know that the words, communication or act will cause the person to believe that harm will be caused to himself or to any other person, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year or with fine or with both."

"(2) Whoever, in any manner or by any means, uses or makes any threatening, abusive or insulting words or communication against any person, or engages in any threatening, abusive or insulting act towards any person, with intent to provoke the person to cause harm to himself or to any other person, or knowing or ought to know that the words, communication or act are likely to provoke the person to cause harm to himself or to any other person, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year or with fine or with both; and if the person so provoked attempts to commit suicide or commits suicide as a result of such provocation, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to ten years or with fine or with both."

• Summary: Making someone believe they, or someone they care about, will be harmed, or provoking them to harm themselves, is now a criminal offence. This includes online provocation or threats.
  
• Penalty: Up to one year's imprisonment, a fine, or both. If the victim attempted suicide or died by suicide, the punishment may extend to 10 years' imprisonment, a fine, or both.

Section 507E: Publishing, etc., any identity information to cause harassment, distress, fear or alarm

"Whoever, in any manner or by any means, publishes, circulates or makes available or causes to be published, circulated or made available, any identity information of a person with intent to cause, or knowing or ought to know that the publication, circulation or availability is likely to cause harassment, distress, fear or alarm to the person, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years or with fine or with both."

• Summary: This provision covers doxxing, making it a crime to share or publish someone's private information online (e.g. photos, phone numbers, addresses) with the intent to cause distress or fear.
  
• Penalty: Up to three years' imprisonment, a fine, or both.

Section 507F: Publishing, etc., any identity information to cause a person to believe that harm will be caused

"(1) Whoever, in any manner or by any means, publishes, circulates or makes available or causes to be published, circulated or made available, any identity information of a person with intent to cause, or knowing or ought to know that the publication, circulation or availability will cause the person to believe that harm will be caused to him or to his related person, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year or with fine or with both."

"(2) Whoever, in any manner or by any means, publishes, circulates or makes available or causes to be published, circulated or made available, any identity information of a person with intent to facilitate, or knowing or ought to know that the publication, circulation or availability is likely to facilitate, the causing of harm to the person or to his related person, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year or with fine or with both."

• Summary: It criminalises the sharing of personal information to make someone believe they will be harmed, or to help others attack or harass the person. It includes group targeting and viral attacks.
  
• Penalty: Up to one year's imprisonment, a fine, or both.

Section 507G: Definitions of "harm", "identity information", and "related person"

"(1) For the purposes of sections 507d and 507f, 'harm' means harm to a person's body, mind, reputation or property, including psychological harm."

"(2) For the purposes of sections 507e and 507f, 'identity information' means any information that identifies or purports to identify a person."

"(3) For the purposes of section 507f, 'related person' means, in relation to a person, any person whose safety or well-being would reasonably be expected to be of concern of the first-mentioned person."

• Summary: It defines harm broadly to include not just physical harm but also psychological harm, reputational damage and emotional trauma — all of which are common outcomes of online bullying.

The law applies across all environments — schools, workplaces, cadet training camps, hospitals, and even cyberspace — ensuring protection in both physical and digital spaces

In other words, environments where phrases like "it's just office politics", "toughen up", "that's just how things work around here", "we've all been through it, it builds character", and "if you can't handle this, you don't belong here" are commonly used can be tell-tale signs of a culture that enables bullying and harassment.

In the recent high-profile bully case involving the late Zara Qairina Mahathir, five suspects were charged under Section 507C(1) of the Penal Code.

The charges highlight how the new provisions are already being applied in the courts, with the aim of securing justice for victims if allegations of bullying are proven.

Beyond schools, law firms have cautioned that workplace bullying, often dismissed as an "HR issue", could now amount to a criminal offence.

Although the offences apply to individuals, employers are not insulated.

According to KL-based IKC Law, companies that fail to act on complaints may face constructive dismissal claims, civil lawsuits for harassment or psychiatric injury, regulatory scrutiny, reputational damage, and public backlash. Inaction, particularly when prior complaints are ignored, may even be viewed as complicity.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said stressed that ignorance of the law is no excuse, reminding Malaysians that knowing one's rights and responsibilities is the first step towards a safer, fairer, and more humane society.