Firm action will be taken against cyber-bullying as cases rise

By  Monica Phang 

Programme Manager, AIBD  

Malaysian government is taking decisive action against cyberbullying as the number of cybercrimes continues to rise at an alarming rate. 

Deputy Communications Minister, Ms Teo Nie Ching said the government has established a dedicated task force comprising experts from four key ministries, including the Ministry in the Prime Minister’s Office for Law and Institutional Reform, Communications Ministry, Home Affairs Ministry and Digital Ministry. 

“Together, we are conducting a thorough review of the Penal Code to strengthen our legal framework and enhance our ability to combat cyberbullying effectively”, she added. 

These efforts aim to create a safer online environment, especially for vulnerable groups like minors, by updating existing laws and ensuring their effective implementation.  

 Additionally, a licensing framework for social media and Internet messaging services to create a more trusted and safe online environment for everyone, are to be introduced. 

 

Ms Teo stressed that as we celebrate the achievements of girls and women in ICT (Information and Communication Technology), it’s essential to address the pressing issue of cyberbullying.  As the future leaders of technology, she encouraged girls and women to leverage their skills, creativity, and expertise to combat this rampant problem. 

Ms Teo was opening the Youth Empowerment: Celebrating Girls in ICT Day Malaysia 2024 Pre-summit Workshop, held as a prelude activity to the 19th Asia Media Summit (AMS) on 2nd September 2024 in Kuala Lumpur.       

She also pointed out that tackling cyberbullying not only protects individuals but also paves the way for more girls to pursue careers in ICT without fear of online harassment. 

Ms Teo disclosed that the Communications Ministry, in collaboration with the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), has actively engaged with major online service providers like Meta and Google to address various issues, particularly online safety moderation.  

She noted that the number of women in the Malaysian tech workforce is steadily increasing where in 2021, 35 percent of women were employed in technology-related roles.  With rising interest in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) and ICT among young women, she hoped this trend would continue and lead to even greater representation. 

However, to thrive in today’s digital age, embracing the digital revolution through skills like coding and application development is essential.  “These skills are as crucial as traditional education in preparing us for problem-solving and social connectivity”, she stressed.   

As the Deputy Communications Minister, she has pledged her commitment to providing Malaysia’s young girls and women with every opportunity through affordable Internet access, creating training opportunities, and more to shine and pursue their interests in ICT.   

“It is our responsibility as leaders to ensure everyone, including girls and young women, can keep pace with the digital revolution”, she reiterated.   

 Meanwhile, the Chairperson of Social and Economics Research Initiative (SERI), Ms Nurul Izzah Anwar Ibrahim encouraged young girls to embark their career choice in the ICT related sectors.

    

Delivering her special remarks, she said ICT is no longer a male dominated arena which offers numerous opportunities for everyone including girls and young women to pursue as their potential career.  

With the rapid digital revolution taking place globally, it is imperative for girls and young women to embrace the new technology and be well-versed with the multi-dimensional aspects of ICT in order to be quality tech-leaders in this digital age. 

Some 300 school students drawn from 7 local universities and 8 secondary schools in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor attended the pre-summit workshop, jointly organised by AIBD and ITU.   

There were three sessions on moderated discussion as follows: 

Session 1 – Special Panel Session on International Girls in ICT Day which is celebrated worldwide every year on the 4th Thursday of April with the objectives of encouraging girls and young women to pursue STEM education, inspiring girls and young women to work in STEM careers and engaging the community and promoting collaboration through leaderships.  

 

 

Session 2 – Inter-generational Dialogue to foster leadership in the field of ICTs by bringing together girls and women leaders and experts in the ICT and broadcasting sector.  The dialogue also provided a platform for insights, reflections and strategies on leadership in ICT, aiming to inspire and empower both current and future generations of girls and women in the ICT and broadcasting industry. 

 

Session 3 – Youths’ Responsible Use of Social Media.  This moderated session provides an avenue for youths like University and secondary school students to share their thoughts on the harmful of cyberbullying on social media platforms and how would the proposed Bills to be tabled by the Malaysian government be relevant and impacted them?  

 

 

There were also five quiz on Girls in ICT for the students attending the event.