KUALA LUMPUR: Schools using messaging platforms for teacher-student communication must be wary of negative elements such as sexual grooming and pornography, says Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil.
At the same time, Fahmi said the operators of Telegram and WhatsApp must be more responsible in curbing criminal misconduct on their platforms or be compelled to follow Malaysian laws.
“Based on feedback from the police, this (schools using such platforms) is frankly quite dangerous. The ministry is studying this.
“I want the internet to be an avenue that is safe for use. Embrace and adopt technology but stay wary of the consequences," he said when launching the U Mobile digital school initiative here on Tuesday (July 23).
He told a press conference after the launch that, according to reports from Bukit Aman's Sexual, Women and Children Crime Investigation Division (D11), WhatsApp was found to have been misused for sexual grooming.
"As for Telegram, we have also received many complaints, including from former and current ministers, about threatening messages and scammers.
"(Allegedly)... some accounts are also misused for pornography and the sale of prohibited substances such as drugs,” he said as quoted by Bernama.
"We want them to be more responsible and proactive in dealing with any problem highlighted by the authorities and take action, particularly on accounts... that violate Malaysian laws.
"If they refuse to make sure their platform is free from criminal elements, we will make sure they comply with our laws.
“Generally, any application can be misused by criminals and we are aware that these applications are also used by (schools),” he said, adding that the platforms were already under scrutiny by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC).
He urged students encountering such negative elements online, as well as cyberbullying, to report it immediately to a teacher or parent.
On the digital school initiative, Fahmi said a pilot project was conducted at four schools in Bangsar and Pudu.
The digital school initiative will focus on increasing financial literacy and smart money management through a digital payment platform.
This allows public students to perform cashless transactions in schools such as paying for meals at the canteen or purchasing items at school bookstores or cooperatives.
“The aim is to utilise digital technology to help students make cashless transactions in school, (such as) buying food at canteens.
"Parents can deposit a certain amount for their children’s expenditure... (and) are also able to monitor the expenditure in real time,” he said.
U Mobile chief executive officer Wong Heang Tuck said digitalising education is a foundation for transforming the national landscape as outlined in the Education Ministry's Digital Education Policy.
“There are challenges such as digital literacy and infrastructure alongside sustainable technological investments.
“We hope to play a role in spearheading Malaysia’s digitalisation,” he said.
