Urgent matter: Amendments to existing laws, possible new laws and better coordination among authorities to deal with cyberbullying will be among the items discussed, says Fahmi. — Bernama
KUALA LUMPUR: Tackling cyberbullying will be a main item in the Cabinet meeting today, with amendments to existing laws or possible new legislation being mulled.
Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil, who disclosed this, said it was part of his ministry’s efforts to make social media platforms safer for the people.
“We will inform the Cabinet on legal action that can be taken, be it (through) a new Act or by amending existing laws.
“The current Parliament meeting will run for about a week more, so we still have some time... if the Cabinet feels there is a need (to present a Bill) for us to act immediately,” he told a special briefing for selected media at Parliament Building here yesterday.
The development follows the latest cyberbullying case involving a social media influencer who was found dead in her home in Gombak Setia, Selangor, last Friday.
The body of Rajeswary Appahu, 30, was found a day after she lodged a police report about death and sexual assault threats made by cyberbullies.
She claimed she was trolled and harassed during a live session, with threats and vulgarity from an individual on TikTok who also used her photo and made serious threats against her.
Fahmi said many had raised questions on the exact definition of cyberbullying, noting that it was important to determine this and work on preventive action.
He said if ministers, MPs or politicians were cyberbullied but did not complain about it, some might brush it off as a triviality.
“But I think we have to draw the line, so the legal interpretation will be given focus,” he added.
In terms of the administrative aspect, Fahmi said some things needed to be fine-tuned such as coordination between the investigating officers of the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) and the police, including on complaints of cyberbullying.
Citing the case of Rajeswary, he said the victim had lodged eight reports with various authorities.
“Sometimes, it involves various parties. And this incident, it went to a completely different level. We need coordination between MCMC and the police,” he said.
Fahmi said proposals on how to counter the scourge of cyberbullying were drawn up following meetings held with Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said, Deputy Digital Minister Datuk Wilson Ugak Kumbong and representatives from the Home Ministry and Attorney General’s Chambers on Wednesday.
Fahmi had previously said that the main challenge in dealing with cyberbullying was that most of the perpetrators hid behind fake accounts, making it difficult to identify them.
On another matter, Fahmi said his ministry would soon launch an online safety roadshow to enhance awareness among schools and communities about the adverse effects of the Internet.
He said the programme aimed to highlight the dangers of Internet use, such as cyberbullying, scams and cybersecurity threats, while also educating the people on methods to protect their personal data, as well as the benefits of online platforms.
