KUALA LUMPUR – The government will explore the need for a new, future-proof law to address cyberbullying in the country, Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil said today.
He told the Dewan Rakyat that the proposed legislation should adapt to evolving communication mediums and meet current needs.
This was among the matters discussed in a meeting about cyberbullying, co-chaired yesterday by him, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Legal and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said, Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, and Digital Minister Gobind Singh.
“Currently, Sections 503 and 509 of the Penal Code (Act 574) which are criminal intimidation offences, and words or gestures intended to humiliate a person’s honour, as well as Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 (Act 588) which are improper use of facilities networks, network services, and others, are among the examples of existing provisions that can be used to deal with offences related to cyberbullying, depending on the form of bullying done,” he said.
He was responding to Ahmad Fadhli Shaari’s (Pasir Mas-PN) question during Minister’s Question Time about the government’s initiative to enact specific laws involving cross-ministerial collaboration to address incidents of cyberbullying.
The outcome of the meeting will be presented at the next cabinet meeting, he added.
On Tuesday, Shalini Periasamy, 33, was implicated in a cyberbullying case involving the late influencer Rajeswary Appahu. She was only fined a maximum of RM100 after being sentenced under the Minor Offences Act of 1955.
She pleaded guilty to intentionally uttering abusive words via her TikTok account, “alphaquinnsha”, to incite anger and disturb the peace, under Section 14 of the Minor Offences Act 1955, which carries a maximum fine of RM100.
Meanwhile, lorry driver B. Sathiskumar, 44, pleaded guilty in the sessions court here to the charge of making and initiating transmissions, of an obscene nature, by using communication services.
The charge was filed under Section 233(1)(a) of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.
According to Section 233(3) of the same act, this offence is punishable by a maximum fine of RM50,000, imprisonment for up to one year, or both. Additionally, a fine of RM1,000 may be imposed for each day the offence persists after conviction.
Rajeswary died on July 5, a month after filing a police report regarding threats and defamation directed at her on social media platforms. – July 18, 2024