COMMENT | Fahmi’s order hollow as cyberbully fined RM100

COMMENT | Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil’s open order to the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to take urgent action against false news, online scams, and cyberbullying rings hollow.

This is after a cyberbully got away with a fine of RM100 in a case where a girl was driven to suicide by allegations thrown against her.

The incomprehensible thing is that this particular cyberbully, a woman named Shalini Periasamy, was charged with the least severe law possible for this - Section 14 of the Minor Offences Act 1955 for insulting behaviour when other acts with far heavier penalties could have been used.

It reads: “Any person who uses any indecent, threatening, abusive, or insulting words, or behaves in a threatening or insulting manner, or posts up or affixes or exhibits any indecent, threatening, abusive, or insulting written paper or drawing with intent to provoke a breach of the peace, or whereby a breach of the peace is likely to be occasioned, shall be liable to a fine not exceeding RM100”.

Just imagine, the maximum penalty is just a fine of RM100 under this Act. The magistrate had no choice but to hand this sentence down. Predictably, Shalini pleaded guilty...