AN MCA leader has expressed concern over recent news of a cyberbully linked to the death of social media influencer A. Rajeswary, also known as Esha, who was sentenced to 12 months in prison by the Sessions Court.
According to Beliawanis MCA chairperson Ivone Low Yi Wen, the penalty, which follows another case where the perpetrator was slapped with a RM100 fine for a similar misdeed, treats cyberbullying as a minor offence, has failed to send a strong message to offenders and does little to protect the victims.
“The law must evolve to allow punishments which are proportionate to the gravity of the crime, and severe sentences must be enforced,” she stressed.
“Cyberbullying cannot be dismissed as a nuisance; it can have long-lasting emotional, psychological, and even physical effects on victims, particularly young people.”
Bernama reported on Thursday (Sept 26) that the punishment meted the sentence to the 44-year-old B. Sathiskumar for posting obscene content against Esha and insulting her mother’s modesty four months ago.
Worse than face-to-face bullying
Low said in some ways, online intimidation and harassment can be worse than face-to-face bullying because akin to stalking, it can follow victims everywhere, even into their homes, through their phones and computers.
“It’s relentless and often anonymous, making it harder for victims to escape or even identify their abusers,” she added.
Calling for a thorough review of laws, particularly Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, Low said in the case of cyberbullying, short prison terms or small fines are insufficient to achieve the deterrence theory.
“With social media being such a big part of our lives today, bullying has become more harmful and far-reaching,” she pointed out.
“Our laws really need to reflect this so that we can better protect our people. In this aspect, we can look to international standards and what they have done to combat these crimes.”
Citing countries such as the United Kingdom that impose sentence of up to two years in prison for malicious online communications, and the United States which has taken steps to impose hefty fines and even suspensions in schools and workplaces, Low said considering these approaches will help send a clear message that cyberbullying will not be tolerated.
“Beliawanis MCA reiterates our earlier proposal that new legislations be enacted or amendments be made to existing legislations to allow the imposition of substantial penalties when online thuggery lead directly to loss of life,” stated Low.
“Beyond legal reforms, we as a community must also act. We need to focus on educating the public about the real impact of online harassment and promote better digital literacy.
“Schools should be equipped with the tools to teach students about the dangers and consequences of harmful online behaviour, while public awareness campaigns can help encourage more responsible use of social media platforms.”
Low said cyberbullying is not a minor issue and deserves the same attention and seriousness as any other form of harassment or abuse.
“It is time we stop treating it as a lesser crime and take meaningful action to protect victims. We cannot wait for more lives to be destroyed or lost before we take decisive action,” she added. – Sept 26, 2024
Main image: The Star
