Home Ministry to launch integrated initiative for youth cyber safety

The Home Ministry will launch an integrated initiative to support the government in increasing cyber safety for school students.

According to Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, the initiative would weave education, prevention and enforcement together to create a safe environment for the younger generation.

“Among our main focus include reinforcing awareness campaigns through cooperation with the Education Ministry and parent-teacher associations, and increasing police presence at school areas.

"We will also strengthen the role of police school liaison to guide students about discipline and cyber safety," he said in a statement today.

Saifuddin added the ministry fully supports Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's plan to limit underage children's access to social media.

He said the abuse of social media and communication devices among school students was a major factor that contributed towards bullying cases, emotional stress, and decline in discipline at school.

National responsibility

The ministry also supports a comprehensive approach towards tackling the problem, including improving the mental health support system to make it more accessible to youths at school and the community, clear enforcement against cyber bullying and abuse of communication devices, and digital literacy education for students, Saifuddin added.

"I want to stress that the issue of students' digital safety is not merely a matter of school discipline, but a national responsibility that requires comprehensive cooperation between the government, educational institutions, parents, the community, and the technology industry.

"This move is not intended to restrict freedom, but to protect the future of Malaysia's younger generation so that they grow up in a learning environment that is safe, disciplined, and healthy both mentally and digitally - in line with the Malaysia Madani aspirations," he said.

Earlier today, the prime minister said the cabinet has proposed three immediate measures to curb the rising tide of bullying and violence in schools.

They include barring teenagers below age 16 from using smartphones.

Fahmi: Govt plans to raise minimum age for social media use to 16

Religious group tells MCMC to curb online access to porn, violent materials

Schools must not protect bullies, conceal cases, PM says

Govt mulling police presence at schools to address safety concerns