PUTRAJAYA: The government had granted in-principle approval for amendments to the Penal Code and the Criminal Procedure Code concerning cyberbullying on social media, with the related bill expected to be tabled in the current Parliamentary session.
Government spokesperson Fahmi Fadzil said the amendments are a crucial step to close the gaps or 'lacuna' within the law, allowing for stronger actions against cyberbullies.
"An amendment bill on this matter will be brought to Parliament this session. In addition, a law titled the Online Safety Bill will also be introduced in Parliament to ensure a safer internet environment, especially for children and families.
"Currently, government studies indicate there is no clear definition of bullying, including cyberbullying, as a crime. This will be addressed in the upcoming Parliament session," he said in a weekly press conference, here.
Fahmi, who is also the Communications Minister previously said that the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) had conducted engagement sessions over the past six months to gather input from stakeholders, including cybersecurity experts, technology developers and computer engineers.
He said the government takes online safety seriously, particularly for children and families, adding that the Code of Conduct for social media is expected to be ready by next
month.
The comprehensive Online Safety Bill 2024,also covers potential cybercrimes, including those involving children.