KUALA LUMPUR – The government will intensify efforts this year to ensure safer internet use amid escalating cyber threats, including online scams, cyberbullying and child sexual exploitation.
Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil said that after nearly four years at the helm, the ministry’s focus has expanded beyond coverage, speed and affordability to prioritising user safety.
“I do not want a legacy where the internet reaches even the most remote areas, yet becomes a highway for criminals to threaten public safety and peace,” he said at the launch of Safer Internet Day 2026, organised by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC).
Fahmi warned that while the internet brings vast benefits—from commerce to knowledge access—it has also become fertile ground for cybercriminals.
“Latest trends show that criminals have largely shifted from physical crimes to cybercrime, using more organised and sustained methods,” he said, noting that rising cybercrime statistics from the Royal Malaysia Police had prompted stronger government action.
He cited high‑profile cases, including a TikTok cyberbullying incident that led to a victim’s death and the exposure of online pedophilia syndicates, as catalysts for legal reforms.
Among the measures is a balanced amendment to Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, which raises penalties for extreme and offensive content.
“We want to celebrate the right to free speech, but at the same time, it does not give anyone the right to slander, harass others, divide society, or threaten public safety. The amendments we have made are therefore very balanced. The maximum fine can now reach RM500,000 or imprisonment, while MCMC may also impose a compound fine of up to RM250,000 based on the advice of the Attorney General’s Chambers,” he said.
Fahmi added that this year’s Safe Internet Campaign will expand to the grassroots, involving neighbourhood committees, mosques, suraus and Madani community groups to spread digital safety awareness.
“We will regularly share messages with schools and communities on how scammers operate today. With more information, faster action, stronger laws and greater awareness among parents, I hope that starting this year, we will see a safer internet for everyone,” he said. – February 8, 2026