A SPECIAL task force comprising four ministries will undertake a comprehensive review before proposing amendments to the Penal Code aimed at combating cyberbullying, Azalina Othman Said said, according to a Bernama report.

The Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) said Putrajaya hopes to table the changes at the parliamentary meeting in October.

Azalina said her ministry, in collaboration with the Digital Ministry, the Home Ministry, and the Communications Ministry, will first focus on defining cyberbullying, as the term has not yet 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. This initiative acknowledges the ongoing debate between upholding democratic principles and determining the boundaries of human rights.

“On 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 was quoted as saying by the national news agency in Penang today.

Recently, Azalina reportedly said that the government, through the Legal Affairs Division, was considering a proposal to amend the Penal Code to introduce specific provisions for the offence of cyberbullying. The proposed amendment, she said, will define the term cyberbullying and classify it as a specific offence in Malaysia. – July 21, 2024.