KUALA LUMPUR – The Communications and Digital Ministry will review relevant current laws to ensure the online environment is more conducive and safe for users in the country, said its minister Fahmi Fadzil.
The Pakatan Harapan communications director stressed that he has been the target of cyberbullying himself as people have made memes of him on social media.
Sometimes we just have to take it in stride and smile. Thanks to all of the cyberbullies helping to promote me,’ he said during a press conference at the Radio Television Malaysia (RTM) centre today.
The Lembah Pantai MP said that cyberbullying has worsened in the last few years in tandem with the Covid-19 pandemic and the movement control order, as the period saw more people face serious mental health issues.
According to him, cyberbullying has a profound impact on people’s lives, whether they are ordinary people, celebrities, or artists in Malaysia and elsewhere.
He added that as a result of the negative impact on their mental health, the victims have been forced to shut down their social media accounts.
In 2020, the United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) reported that Malaysia ranks second in Asia for cyberbullying among youths.
Unicef also said three out of 10 young Malaysians have been a victim of cyberbullies in the country.
In January this year, Malaysian Mental Health Association (MMHA) president Datuk Dr Andrew Mohanraj had said that MMHA received 500 calls every month regarding cases of cyberbullying. – The Vibes, December 9, 2022
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