KUALA LUMPUR: The Dewan Rakyat today passed two bills to specifically address the issue of bullying in any manner or form, including cyberbullying.
This includes the Penal Code (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2024 and the Criminal Procedure Code (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2024, both under the supervision of the Legal Affairs Division of the Prime Minister's Department (JPM).
Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reforms), Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said when concluding the debate on the Penal Code amendments, said that the amendment is necessary to face future challenges while not disregarding current needs.
She said the amendment aims to provide comprehensive protection, including addressing the increasingly complex issue of bullying, especially in the digital era.
She said the amendment would, among other things, function as a preventive mechanism and protect society, especially children.
"We want the landscape in the country to be different when talking about the culture of bullying, whether physical or online, which is also known as cyberbullying. In fact, many legal experts have stated that the country lacks laws to deal with bullying and cyberbullying.
"Sections 503, 504, 505, 506, 507, 508, and 509 of the Penal Code have different premises and cannot account for what is happening in the digital era.
"For instance, with the challenge of cyberbullying, the crucial proof cannot be gathered. Tomorrow (after the bill is enforced), online safety will be the responsibility of service providers or platforms to ensure that such incidents can be stopped when reports are made to them," she said.
Azalina said the need for the amendment arose after considering the severity of bullying culture, particularly among the younger generation through digital systems where their identities are not known to the public.
She added that the reality of bullying today is more complex and requires more holistic protection against behaviors both online and offline, to ensure justice for the victims, as the phenomenon transcends age boundaries.
"Perpetrators can hide within the system, not just 365 days a year but can bully 24/7.
"In fact, in Australia a few weeks ago, they prohibited children aged 16 and under from accessing social media because the existing system was seen as inadequate in monitoring cyberbullying, which has led to suicidal tendencies.
"Ultimately, education after this law is passed is more important, and I am more concerned about the younger generation who consider bullying a joke. I hope the relevant ministries and parents will play their respective roles in addressing this issue," she said.
Meanwhile, Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reforms), M Kulasegaran, when concluding the debate on the Criminal Procedure Code (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2024, also concurred with Azalina.