KUALA LUMPUR: Expel Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara) students immediately if they are found indulging in abusing Internet facilities for criminal gain, says Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
The Deputy Prime Minister said he hoped that planned improvements to Internet connectivity at Mara educational institutions will not be misused by the students.
“We must ensure that high-speed Internet available to the institutions will not be abused for crimes, especially those involving sexual elements.
“If there are such cases, I will instruct Mara chairman Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki to immediately expel students involved,” he said in his speech during a Hari Raya Aidilfitri event at Universiti Poly-Tech Malaysia (UPTM) here on Thursday (April 10).
At the same event, Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil had earlier announced a RM200mil allocation to improve Internet connectivity at all Mara education institutions
He stressed that students must use the service responsibly and avoid criminal activity, bringing up the case of a student in Johor who was arrested for allegedly editing his schoolmates’ photos into lewd material to be sold online.
"I feel conflicted. We are working hard to solve Internet issues to ensure it is fast and affordable. But if some people misuse it for criminal activity or to spread slander, I don’t want this high-speed, quality Internet service to be misused.
“I hope Mara itself can work together with the ministry and Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission in promoting the safe Internet campaign.
"Understanding the importance of safe Internet use so that one does not fall victim to scams, cyberbullying or become involved in online child sexual exploitation," he said.
