KUALA LUMPUR: The mother of social media influencer A. Rajeswary, who allegedly took her life due to online abuse on July 5, expressed relief over the passage of an anti-cyberbullying clause.
Rajeswary was better known as Esha on social media platforms. She was 30 when she was found dead in her Setapak apartment a few days after lodging a police report alleging she had been abused online.
Her death sparked a nationwide outrage and led to a clause being introduced in the Penal Code — via Amendment Bill (2) 2024 — which provided for sterner punishments for cyberbullies.
Speaking to the New Straits Times today (Dec 11), the victim's mother Puspa Rajagopal said she was comforted that the new law against cyberbullying would be called the Esha Clause.
Acknowledging that nothing would bring her daughter back, Puspa said the new law would at least provide other cyberbullying victims like Esha some recourse.
"I feel honoured that they choose to name the new law after my daughter. Though, nothing is going to bring her back, it could stop bullies from attacking others like my daughter," she said.
Puspa said the heavier penalties for cyberbullies gave her some relief and comfort.
"If I'm not mistaken, from now on, those who 'cause' loss of life due to their cyberbullying could face up to 10 years' jail. This punishment should have been handed down to the two perpetrators in my daughter's case.
"But it's okay. At least now, no bully will get to walk away with just an RM100 fine," she said via telephone.
Esha had a large online following and was liked by many for her social media commentary on the Indian community and Hinduism.
Puspa said her daughter was a gutsy woman who believed in fighting for what was right, which probably displeased some people.
"I really hope the Esha Clause will protect others like my daughter, who spoke out against injustice on social media," she said.
Puspa had previously called on the authorities to tighten laws on cyberbullies and trolling.
She had said there should be dire consequences for cyberbullies, as opposed to the mere one-year jail and RM100 fine meted out to Esha's two cyberbullies, B. Sathiskumar, 44, and P. Shalini, 35, respectively.
Yesterday, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reforms) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said said the Esha Clause, or Section 507D(2) of the Penal Code, criminalised any words or actions used to threaten, insult, or defame with the intent to provoke self-harm or harm to others.
The penalty for such offences includes imprisonment for up to 10 years, a fine, or both.
Esha's death was not the first in the country linked to cyberbullying.
In May 2020, Thivya Nayagi, 20, took her own life after she was continually harassed and bullied online.
In Aug 2022, TikToker N. Sashikala, 44, took her life after cyberbullies trolled and harassed her for days.