PETALING JAYA: A close friend of the late influencer Rajeswary Appahu (Esha) said she burst into tears upon hearing that the newly-formulated law to counter cyberbullying will be called “Esha Clause”.
“I was emotional when I heard this. It means so much to the many people who knew Esha as well as those who have also been mercilessly cyberbullied like her,” said S. Hemalatha.
The 40-year-old broadcast journalist had also been a cyberbullying victim herself and levelled with lewd allegations by the same duo that had oppressed Esha, 29, a Hindu rights activist who died in July. She has since lodged a police report and been notified recently that the investigation papers have been sent to the Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC) for further action.
In her police report, Hemalatha said she had been severely humiliated as well as mentally and emotionally traumatised after being bullied. The duo who had bullied the late Rajeswary were both recently charged and convicted of the offence.
Lorry driver B. Sathiskumar, 44, who verbally abused Esha, is serving a one-year jail sentence after pleading guilty to two charges against him in September.
Shalini Periasamy, 36, the owner of a private psychiatric care nursing home, was charged with committing a minor misdemeanour and slapped with a RM100 fine in July.
Following that, Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil joined the chorus of disappointment over the RM100 fine. He said although he was dismayed by the fine amount, he understood the penalty was based on evidence gathered by the AGC and stressed the need to review the definition of cyberbullying so as to set the appropriate penalties for it.
It is believed that more people will be lodging police reports against the duo for cyberbullying following the Esha Clause announcement. The naming of the clause was announced by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reforms) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said yesterday.
