MCMC Investigated Only 963 Cases Out of 15,238 Online Harassment Complaints Since 2016
And only 60 of these 963 cases were brought to court.
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The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) received a total of 15,238 online harassment complaints since 2016.
Of these, the MCMC investigated only 963 cases up to 30 September 2021, according to statistics revealed in a written parliamentary reply.
The parliamentary written reply was shared by Communications and Multimedia Minister Annuar Musa to Permatang Pauh member of Parliament (MP) Nurul Izzah Anwar yesterday, 7 December.
In his reply, Annuar told Dewan Rakyat that the 15,238 registered complaints from 2016 to 30 September this year were general complaints on issues that included online harassment that covered bullying, sexual harassment, threats, misuse of personal data, and private pictures to victimise or humiliate targets.
The 963, or 6%, of the total cases investigated by MCMC were related to online abuse via social media and investigated under Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.
Furthermore, only 60 of these 963 cases were brought to court
These 60 cases resulted in 241 charges against the perpetrators.
Annuar shared that while a number of the cases were forwarded to the relevant social media platforms for further action, the minister did not provide any reason behind the low figures of the cases being investigated.
Free Malaysia Today reported that he also shared that MCMC was unable to provide a breakdown of the data according to race, gender, age, and state of origin of the victims and perpetrators as requested by Nurul Izzah.
The minister, however, shared that MCMC has provided advice and guidance to the parties involved in some of these cases
"MCMC also advises and gives guidance to those affected [...] the steps taken are also based on claims and demands by the complainants," he said in the written parliamentary reply, adding, "Complaints outside our jurisdiction will be referred to the relevant enforcement agencies and technical expertise would be given to them."
If you or someone you know may be at risk or has experienced sexual abuse or assault, please reach out to these Malaysian organisations:
1. WOMEN'S AID ORGANISATION (WAO)
Operating hours: 24-hour
Contact: +603-30008858
SMS/WhatsApp: +6018-9888058
Website | Facebook | Twitter
2. ALL WOMEN'S ACTION SOCIETY (AWAM)
Operating hours: Monday to Friday (9.30am - 5.30pm)
Contact: +603-78770224
WhatsApp/Telegram: +6016-2284221 | +6016-2374221
Email: telenita@awam.org.my
Website | Facebook | Twitter
3. WOMEN'S CENTRE FOR CHANGE PENANG (WCC PENANG)
Operating hours: Monday to Friday (9am - 5pm)
Contact: +604-2280342 | +604-3988340
WhatsApp: +6011-31084001 | +6016-4180342
Email: wcc@wccpenang.org
Website | Facebook | Twitter
4. SARAWAK WOMEN FOR WOMEN SOCIETY (SWWS)
Operating hours: Monday (7pm - 9pm),Tuesday to Thursday (9.30am - 11.30am), Saturday (2pm - 4pm)
Contact: +6082-368853
SMS/WhatsApp: +6016-5822660 | +6013-8044285
Email: sarswws@gmail.com
Website | Facebook | Twitter
5. SABAH WOMEN'S ACTION-RESOURCE GROUP (SAWO)
Operating hours: Monday to Friday (9am - 5pm)
Contact: +6088-280200 | +6011-27908020
Email: sawo.women@yahoo.com
Website | Facebook | Twitter
6. PROTECT AND SAVE THE CHILDREN (PS THE CHILDREN)
Operating hours: Monday to Friday (3pm - 12am)
WhatsApp: +6016-7213065
Email: protect@psthechildren.org.my
Website | Facebook | Twitter
7. INTERNET WATCH FOUNDATION (IWF)
Anonymously and confidentially report child sexual abuse content and non-photographic child sexual abuse images with IWF's Reporting Portal.
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