More than a fight show: Rentap Championship 7.0 highlights anti-bullying message via campaign

KOTA SAMARAHAN (Jan 19): This year’s Rentap Fighting Championship adds a meaningful new dimension to its organisation through the inclusion of an anti-bullying awareness campaign.

The programme took off at the Summer Shopping Mall here on Sunday, with the objective of promoting child safety.

Moreover, the campaign also reinforced the message of martial arts not meant to encourage bullying, but to nurture discipline, respect and also positive character development.

“This year’s Rentap Fighting Championship is basically the same, except that we’ve added an anti-bullying seminar and expanded educational sessions for the parents, particularly on issues related to child abuse,” said the event’s organiser and promoter Jennana Johnson.

In a session held as part of the campaign, DSP Angela Ladie of the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) revealed the statistics related to sexual offences involving minors.

“In 2025, rape cases involving underage victims increased from around 152 cases (in 2024) to 182 cases,” she said, while urging parents to remain vigilant in ensuring their children’s safety.

Another speaker for the session, Imran Harith from Discover MuayThai, said martial arts could protect children from bullying, but they must be guided under proper values.

“Martial arts teach discipline and self-confidence, which can ultimately help prevent a child from becoming a victim of bullying.

“However, it is never meant to encourage bullying,” he stressed.

Adding on, Jennana also expressed hope that more muay thai organisations, martial arts gyms and sports bodies would come together and support the anti-bullying initiative.

“As fighters, we don’t need to bully anyone.

“We fight in the ring, but we do not fight at school and we do not bully the children outside.

“This initiative helps youths to be confident and secure in themselves, without making others feel insecure.”

The session on anti-bullying awareness also involved several well-known fighters, namely Mikail (‘Miki’) Ghazali, Kabilan Jelevan Thiagarajan, Daeloniel McDelon Bong or ‘Kilat Boy’, and Muhammad Hasbullah Mood.

The championship enters its seventh edition this year.