Communications Minister Fahmi said the government is prioritizing efforts to address cyberbullying and hate speech in the sports world, focusing on strengthening the legal framework and raising public awareness.
He stated that Youth and Sports Minister Yeo Bee Yin is working with other agencies to tackle harassment, abuse, and hate speech in sports, following a surge in cyber harassment incidents during recent events such as the Paris Olympics and Paralympics.
"It is necessary to fundamentally address the issue of cyberbullying by implementing education programs in schools and sports venues."
He highlighted at the National Journalists Day (HAWANA) sports event, held at Brainy Bunch International School Melawati campus, during cross-media netball and nine-a-side football matches, that these awareness education programs help people recognize the serious impact of cyberbullying on mental health and sportsmanship.
Fahmi said the initiative aims to educate the community about the effects of cyberbullying on athletes, sports fans, and supporters, particularly through advocacy programs targeting schools and sports events.
He said besides advocacy activities, the government is also considering amending the Criminal Procedure Code and the Penal Code to clearly define cyberbullying and other forms of harassment.
He pointed out that once laws are enacted and advocacy programs are launched, it is believed this will help reduce the likelihood of such incidents occurring.
He stressed that it is a priority to raise awareness of cyber security in schools and communities, as the key to addressing this is to focus on the places where bullying is most likely to occur.