KUALA LUMPUR: Several amendments to the Penal Code concerning mule accounts, cyberbullying, and the Communication and Multimedia Act, along with a new Online Safety Bill, will be presented in the current Parliament session.
Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil said that these amendments and the new bill would be tabled for their first reading in the coming weeks.
He said that these measures were part of the government's commitment to creating a safer internet for everyone.
"Among the initiatives the government is undertaking is the amendment to the Penal Code to define the law concerning mule accounts, which are often exploited by scammers to funnel stolen funds.
"We will propose a series of amendments to the Penal Code to classify bullying as a criminal offence, including cyberbullying and related issues. Additionally, we will amend the Communications and Multimedia Act to standardise certain industry practices and regulate social media platforms," he told reporters after a Ministerial Talk at UiTM Shah Alam today.
Fahmi also shared plans to introduce the Online Safety Bill, aimed at ensuring the internet was not only more accessible and faster for users but, most importantly, safer — especially for children and families.
Addressing concerns about potential restrictions on freedom of speech, he said that the right to free expression was protected by the Federal Constitution, which is the supreme law of Malaysia.
"Our primary intent is not to stifle public discourse but to combat criminal activities that exploit social media for illegal purposes," he said.
"The government is committed to upholding the people's right to speak freely. We aim to prevent criminals from taking advantage of the situation to destabilise the country and steal from the public without consequences."
"This is the main purpose behind the proposed amendments and the new Act we intend to introduce. We expect the first reading to occur in the coming weeks, God willing," he said.