‘Malaysian children face growing online risks’
Minister says legislation to protect children in digital space is in works, with inter-ministerial cooperation underway
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (MNTV) – Malaysia must prioritize legal reforms to safeguard children from rising online threats, said Nancy Shukri, the country’s Women, Family and Community Development Minister.
According to Scoop, she stressed that the country is lagging behind others in legislating protections for minors in the digital space.
Nancy acknowledged that while Malaysia has yet to enact a specific law to address such risks, discussions and cross-ministerial collaborations are ongoing to lay the groundwork for a comprehensive legal framework.
“We don’t yet have a law, but it is being worked on. This is something we must do for our country, just as other countries have already established their own laws,” she said after officiating the Excellent Service Awards (APC) ceremony for the Kuching District Education Office at Dewan Hikmah in Petra Jaya.
She added that efforts are already in motion through platforms such as the National Social Council, and that the new legislation is expected to be led by the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform), under the stewardship of Azalina Othman Said.
“The law will be drafted through the Ministry in the Prime Minister’s Department. But we need cooperation from the Ministry of Digital and MCMC. It is not just the responsibility of one ministry,” she said. “If the responsibility is eventually given to us, we will take it on—we are already cooperating with the relevant ministries.”
Nancy’s remarks came amid mounting concern over children’s exposure to online dangers, including exploitation, cyberbullying, and harmful content.
She noted that Malaysia will present its efforts to the international community at the session of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) in Geneva.
“We will be going to Geneva again for the CRC, where we will talk about what we have done and what we intend to do in Malaysia,” she added.
The minister also issued a reminder to parents to take greater care with their children’s digital presence, noting that seemingly innocent acts such as posting photos on social media could carry hidden risks.
“Even advertisements on television are reminding parents not to expose their children unnecessarily on social media, just because they think their child is cute. This can have serious consequences,” she said. “Parents do play a critical role. That’s why we always work closely with the Ministry of Education and local education departments.”
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