KUALA LUMPUR: The issue of cyberbullying on social media platforms will be brought to the Cabinet on Friday to find a solution, which will include legal and enforcement aspects, says Fahmi Fadzil.
The Communications Minister said apart from reporting on an incident involving an influencer who allegedly committed suicide due to cyberbullying, the presentation was also requested by Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
“We don’t just report what happened. We take action, especially if we need to amend laws which have weaknesses,” he told reporters after visiting the family of the 29-year-old female influencer who was found dead at about 11am on July 5.
Fahmi said most cyberbullies use accounts with fake profiles.
“One of the complaints which the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) and the Communications Ministry have received from the police is that the (profiles of) accounts involved in various abusive activities are fake, making it hard to identify those who made the comments or were involved in the scam,” he said.
Fahmi said that the victim’s family had lodged a police report and the ministry had also contacted TikTok, which expressed willingness to cooperate.
He said that his ministry would consider the need to amend existing laws related to cyberbullying and said those individuals involved in the case would be brought to justice.
“This matter was relayed to the Prime Minister and I have also spoken to Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo and the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said. We have a similar stance on this issue and will meet in a few days.
“Offences are not only about humiliating or disclosing personal information, which is an offence under the Personal Data Protection Act. We will meet and examine existing laws and what steps we need to take.
Fahmi also said that his ministry upholds the decree of His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, who reminded the public not to turn social media platforms into a place for argument or to shame others.
Fahmi added that his ministry would implement several measures to ensure that the Internet is safe as cyberbullying also occurs on other social media sites such as Facebook and also WhatsApp. – Bernama
