Netizen’s comments have a mental effect on athletes considered cyber bullying – Fahmi

KUALA LUMPUR: Comments made by netizens against the athletes of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games on social media can be considered cyber bullying if it affect their mental health, said Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil.

He said a review would be carried out by the Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) if there were reports from time to time regarding the matter.

“We see that sometimes some people think that comments made by these netizens can be considered cyber bullying if the athletes feel their mental health is affected.

“I will check first and ask MCMC to make a follow-up statement,” he told reporters after attending the 2024 Coastal Valley Unity Convention here today.

The Lembah Pantai Member of Parliament said the perpetrators were spotted making rather rude comments against the athletes and some were using fake accounts.

“There are a number of acts of cyber bullying, the perpetrators of which hide behind fake accounts and actions by social media platforms are not effective in curbing the activities of fake accounts, not only for the issue of cyber bullying but fraud and the most troubling sexual crime against children,” he said.

Asked about Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman’s objection to the proposal that the government build a dedicated social media platform, Fahmi asked the Muar Member of Parliament to check the facts first.

“I don’t know what he said. Maybe he didn’t check the facts first. To Syed Saddiq, I’m not sure; don’t share,” he said.

Last Monday, Syed Saddiq said the objection was made because Malaysia has hundreds of ministry or agency applications that overlap and end up not working.