PUTRAJAYA: Extremely unhappy with incidents involving cyberbullying, the Prime Minister wants the authorities to come down hard on these online aggressors, says government spokesman Fahmi Fadzil (pic).
Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has also directed the police and the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission to do more to stop cyberbullying, which recently grabbed headlines again after the death of an influencer and activist who was harassed online.
Fahmi said he updated the Prime Minister and the Cabinet on the issue yesterday, where other ministers also shared their concerns – including the need for more action.
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“Ministers are of the view that existing laws are sufficient to act against those who bully others in cyberspace. What needs to be done is for swift and tough action to be taken against the perpetrators,” said Fahmi, who is also Communications Minister.
“I have relayed the matter to the relevant parties and we can expect to see sterner action soon,” he told reporters but did not elaborate on what this meant.
At the same time, the ministry was also reviewing existing laws such as the Penal Code and the Communications and Multimedia Act to make them more effective at tackling the problem.
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This included looking at ways to deal with fake social media accounts which are used by cyberbullies, Fahmi said.
He said a previous survey recommended crafting a specific act to deal with cyberbullying, but these recommendations may have to be updated to suit the current social media landscape.
“Since it was done some years ago, it may need to be updated to suit current needs.
“For now, we can act against cyberbullies based on existing laws. At the same time, we can amend current legal provisions so that there will be specific legislation to deal with the issue,” he added.
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Lawyers and criminologists who spoke to The Star recently argued that there was a dire need for a new framework on cyberbullying to safeguard Internet users, especially the young and vulnerable.
They said current laws that deal with online harassment fall short of addressing cyberbullying in the ever-evolving social media landscape.
Fahmi said the Cabinet was also briefed on plans for a nationwide campaign to increase awareness on online safety, including cyberbullying and personal data safety.
“It is not just about tackling cyberbullying. We also want to ensure fast, wide and safe Internet access for everyone, including minors,” he said.
