Gobind: Make it easier for victims to get justice

KUALA LUMPUR: It’s time to simplify the legal process to make it easier for victims of online crimes to get justice, says Gobind Singh Deo.

The Digital Minister said current laws are archaic and not in tandem with the rapid technology advancements to deal with faceless and borderless online crimes.“One of the things that we have been discussing is whether you can develop a more efficient system by which complaints can be made, investigations carried out and ultimately, action taken.

“If we operate as we have traditionally, where there’s a need for you to physically appear to make complaints, lodge complaints, investigations to take place and all that, I think this system may not be very efficient,” he said during the International Legal Conference on Online Harms 2024 here yesterday.

Gobind called for better mechanisms to ensure evidence tendered in court is admissible when an online crime has been committed.

“We want to make sure that once we adopt these new measures, they are admissible in court, as ultimately, if it goes to court, you need to use the findings from this investigation,” he said.

Gobind also said his ministry and relevant agencies are looking at training the personnel in the police and Attorney General Chambers to ensure they too are educated and sensitised to online harms.

Separately, Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) M. Kulasegaran, who also spoke at the event, said perpetrators of online harms must not get away with “minor punishment”.

He said those who trolled social media influencer Rajeswary Appahu got away with a minor fine of RM100 based on current laws.

“Governments must strike a delicate balance, that is, protecting individuals from harm while upholding their constitutional rights to freedom of speech and open communication, both of which are vital to the Internet’s integrity,” said Kulasegaran.

Rajeswary, better known as Esha, was found dead in her home on July 5, a day after she lodged a police report that she was being trolled on Tik Tok.