JOHOR BARU: The authorities are investigating a Facebook group that allegedly promoted sexual content involving misused images of children.
Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching said the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has contacted Facebook's owner and operator, Meta, on the matter.
“This particular Facebook page has since been closed... MCMC and the police are working together to take further action,” she told the media during a literary charity sale and cultural performance at a mall here on Sunday (June 15).
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She declined further comment as the matter was under investigation.
Teo said that throughout last year, MCMC and the police had taken action against child sexual predators during a special operation in several states.
“They arrested 13 (suspects) and took down more than 40,000 items of child sexual abuse material found online.
“MCMC will continue to work closely with the police to take act against those found to be involved in such acts,” she added.
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Teo also urged parents to educate their children on online safety, especially when using social media.
“Since January, MCMC has conducted the Safe Internet Campaign (KIS) to educate the public, in particular our children, on proper ways of using the Internet.
“This also covers cyberbullying, (and) not communicating with strangers on social media as a way to protect children from harm,” she added.
Teo said that under KIS, the MCMC has successfully reached out to more than 11,000 students ranging from primary to university level, as well as parents and teachers.
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She added that schools interested in holding KIS for their students should contact the MCMC, which would arrange for a trainer to be assigned.
Recently, social media influencer Wee Yun Nee, popularly known as Mekyun, lodged a police report after discovering a Facebook group that posted, among others, pictures from her younger days.
“Do not remain silent if this happens to you,” she said, urging children not to be afraid to inform their parents if they are similarly harassed.
She said she became aware of such groups after numerous followers had alerted her that an image of her in a “baju kurung” school uniform when she was younger was being circulated.
Wee urged the police and MCMC to investigate the matter.
The “Group Budak2 Sekolah Rendah” page, now inaccessible, had over 12,000 members and many sexually explicit comments and captions on its photos.
The images included underage students wearing primary and secondary school uniforms, traditional wear, sports attire, and casual clothing.
