KUALA LUMPUR: The government has been urged to urgently enact laws to deal with cyber-bullying incidents in the country.
Following the recent suicide of a popular TikToker from Subang Jaya, Parti Bangsa Malaysia (PBM) said the tragedy involving the mother of three was a stark reminder that such laws were needed to stamp out this menace.
The party said that based on a Unicef report, Malaysia ranked second in Asia for cyberbullying among youths in 2020.
The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) received 6,598 public complaints related to online harassment from 2020 to July 2021.
"These statistics are startling. We believe they are only the tip of the iceberg as many cases go unreported. Besides loss of lives, many youths had to endure distressful psychological and emotional trauma because of reckless online behaviour," said PBM Young Women's Wing chief, Muniraa Abu Bakar.
In a statement today, she said the Government should not brush aside this growing problem as today's youth is the nation's future.
"They should not grow up in a toxic environment where they could be subject to vicious online harassment that could hamper their personal growth.
"Existing laws like the Penal Code do not put a lid on this problem. The Government needs specific legislation to send a powerful message that cyber-bullying cannot be tolerated and perpetrators will be harshly dealt with," she said.
The government can take a lead from Singapore's Protection from Harassment Act (POHA). Enacted in 2014, the law was designed specifically to make cyber-bullying, stalking and online harassment within and out of the workplace a criminal offence.
For example, under the Act, offenders who intentionally cause harassment, alarm or distress face a fine of up to S$5,000 and/or an imprisonment term of up to 6 months. These maximum penalties are doubled for repeat offenders.
Besides introducing new laws, Muniraa said, the Government should also make available and accessible platforms for victims of cyberbullying to reach out for help.
These can be as a dedicated round-the-clock national cyber-bullying hotline manned by trained professionals.
"Victims should also be able to have easy access to counsellors for face-to-face sessions and being taught online etiquette and how to respond when harassed by online bullies.
"These steps can help mitigate the severity of cyber-bullying in the country and help Malaysian youth grow up in an environment conducive for their personal growth," she added.