PUTRAJAYA – The cabinet has agreed in principle to amend legal provisions related to cyberbullying following the death of local influencer Rajeswary Appahu, said Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil.
Fahmi, along with Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo and Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Minister Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said, emphasised the need to strengthen the law.
“We will examine (the law). (Gobind and Azalina) have raised (the possibility) that we may need to amend existing laws, not just by definition of cyberbullying, but also by punishment to be imposed.
“In principle, at the cabinet level, (several) ministers have agreed to examine legal aspects that need improvement,” he told a press conference at his ministry today.
Fahmi said that Azalina is working on amendments to the Penal Code, which could be implemented swiftly.
He added that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had highlighted the importance of holding social media platforms accountable for such incidents, noting the prevalence of other cybercrimes online.
The police have arrested two individuals suspected of cyberbullying Rajeswary under Section 506 of the Penal Code, Section 233 of the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia (MCMC) Act 1998, and Section 14 of the Minor Offences Act 1955.
Today, Sathiskumar Balakrishnan, 44, pleaded guilty to issuing obscene comments against Rajeswary using the TikTok account @dulal_brothers_360, and possibly faces up to one year in jail, a fine of up to RM50,000, or both, upon conviction under the MCMC Act.
Meanwhile, Shalini Periasamy, 33, was fined RM100 under the Minor Offences Act, for uttering insults via TikTok account @alphaquinnsha with the intent to provoke Rajeswary.
Commenting on a scuffle that occurred yesterday in front of Parliament after a rally aimed at submitting a memorandum regarding the late Teoh Beng Hock, Fahmi said that the handling of the incident could be improved.
“In such issues, we must examine what can be done to improve how (the incident) was handled.
“I also hope this matter can be given attention by the authorities,” Fahmi said, adding that he sympathised with the matter since 2009. – July 16, 2024