CYBERJAYA – Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil has warned that high-speed internet access is meaningless if Malaysians remain exposed to online scams, cyberbullying, and harmful content — particularly among children.
“There’s no point having lightning-fast internet at 1Gbps if scammers can reach you just as quickly,” he said at the World Telecommunication and Information Society Day (WTISD) 2025 celebration here today.
Fahmi said he has directed the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to intensify its Kempen Internet Selamat — a national awareness campaign promoting safer internet practices, especially among children and teenagers.
“We talk about expanding internet access to everyone, including the Orang Asli community, but with it comes the darker side of the internet,” he said.
“Children under the age of 13 should not be on social media. When they’re older, it’s acceptable — but their use must be carefully monitored,” he added, stressing the need for early digital literacy education and strong parental supervision.
During a press conference, Fahmi also said the upcoming Online Safety Act — passed in Parliament last year and currently awaiting royal assent — will be a vital enforcement tool to hold social media platforms accountable for malicious or misleading content.
“We believe this law will be key in ensuring platforms take responsibility for what is published on their networks,” he said.
“At present, there are far too many scam ads, online gambling promotions, and fake health endorsements — and not nearly enough action to remove them.”
Fahmi cited the recent case of celebrity eye specialist Dr Muhaya Mohamad, whose image was misused to promote unverified health products online.
“She even received a warning from the Ministry of Health for something she had no part. That should never happen — and platforms like Facebook must be held accountable.”
He also highlighted rising phishing threats, such as malware disguised as government aid forms or wedding invitation apps (.apk files), which have caused victims to lose access to WhatsApp and social media accounts.
Fahmi said the Kempen Internet Selamat would now expand beyond schoolchildren to target the wider public.
“We need more Malaysians to understand how to protect themselves online. It’s no longer just about the infrastructure — it’s about the behaviour and safety of our users.”
Separately, the minister announced that the MCMC has been tasked with assessing telco coverage on a state-by-state basis rather than relying solely on national averages.
He stressed that Malaysians deserve consistent service regardless of provider, especially when subscribing to nationwide packages.
“We’ve introduced a framework for 4G multi-operator networks and telco network sharing. No one should be stuck with spotty coverage just because of which telco they happen to use,” he said.
Also in attendance at the event were Communications Ministry Secretary-General Datuk Mohamad Fauzi Md Isa, MCMC Executive Chairman Tan Sri Mohamad Salim Fateh Din, and International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Area Representative Kishore Babu Yerraballa. – May 17, 2025