BUTTERWORTH, July 21 – A special task force comprising four ministries will undertake a comprehensive review before proposing amendments to the Penal Code (Act 574) aimed at combating cyberbullying.
The changes is expected to be tabled in Parliament this October, said Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform).
She said that her ministry, in collaboration with the Digital Ministry, the Home Ministry, and the Communications Ministry, will first focus on defining cyberbullying as up to this point, the term has not been explicitly addressed in the country’s legislation.
To better understand global best practices, she plans to organise an international legal seminar on online threats, drawing insights from countries like Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Singapore.
“Regarding the issue of cyberbullying, some people argue that they have the freedom to say whatever they like because, unlike physical bullying, it only involves words,” she said.
“However, cyberbullying is not a one-time offence. It often includes actions such as swooping, doxxing and intimidation. The most damaging aspect is its inflammatory nature, where individuals incite others to foster hatred,” she explained.
