KOTA TINGGI: The upcoming Online Safety Bill scheduled for tabling this December will ensure parents play a more proactive role in protecting their children from cybercrimes, says Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said (pic).
The Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform) added that parents should be accountable for monitoring their children due to the rising cases of online scams and the exploitation of young people.
She spoke about this after being personally involved in rescuing Malaysians from a job scam in Cambodia, where two victims were forced into working as scammers.
"I got involved after my officer informed me about the case a month ago; on 18 October, I held a meeting with the Cambodian Ambassador to Malaysia, Ouk Chandara, and within a week, the situation was resolved.
It's not just about scams—there's a growing trend of sexual exploitation and threats, and young people are at risk. These children are being lured by people they know, sometimes even their friends. It's not something we can afford to ignore," she said.
She said this when met after the MyLesen handover programme held at a hotel in Bandar Penawar on Saturday (Nov 9).
Azalina added that the government, through the Online Safety Bill, will enhance its efforts to track and prevent online exploitation.
“Through this Bill, authorities will implement a new system for detecting suspicious online activity. If there are any signs of trouble, we will act swiftly to track down and take the necessary action,” she said.
Azalina said that education and awareness in tackling these issues is essential, adding that while smartphones are essential communication tools, they can also be used as weapons by predators.
“Our phones can connect us with the world, but they can also be used to exploit and control. It's vital that we teach our children to use them responsibly,” she added.
