BTH: Bullying crackdown, Zara Qairina inquest & NST 'Heard the News?' [WATCH]
The Penal Code (Amendment) Act 2025 introduces Sections 507B to 507G, criminalising harassment, bullying, insults, and identity misuse — both offline and online.
The move closes legal gaps, but enforcement remains a challenge, especially with anonymous accounts and deleted content.
Critics also warn against potential misuse and question whether Malaysia's justice system allows for restorative approaches.
These changes come amid the high-profile death of Zara Qairina, now the subject of an inquest under Section 339(1) of the Criminal Procedure Code.
A Bukit Aman task force and a second post-mortem aim to shed light on the case, with the public demanding transparency and accountability.
Meanwhile, the New Straits Times, in partnership with the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission, has launched 'Heard the News? Read with Me' — Malaysia's first QR-coded audio news articles.
Accessible via QR scans in print, the initiative offers narrated stories to boost English proficiency, aid visually impaired and auditory learners.
More on this week's Beyond the Headlines. Watch on NST Online's Youtube.
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KOTA KINABALU: The legal team representing the family of Zara Qairina Mahathir has welcomed the Attorney-General's Chambers (A-GC) decision to charge several suspects in connection with her alleged bullying case. The team, led by Hamid Ismail, said the decision aligns with recommendations they submitted to the A-GC on Aug 14. "Our proposal at the time was based on disclosures by the Director of Bukit Aman's Criminal Investigation Department, which revealed evidence pointing to bullying prior to the incident involving Zara Qairina. "Therefore, prosecution must be carried out against those named in the evidence under Section 507D(2) of the Penal Code," the lawyers said in a joint statement today. The legal team also includes Shalhan Jufri, Rizwanaden M Borhan, Mohd Luqman Syazwan Zabidi, Mohd Syarulrizam Mohd Salleh, and Farrah Nasser. However, the lawyers noted that they have yet to be informed of the identities of those who will be charged in court. Earlier, the Attorney-General Tan Sri Mohd Dusuki Mokhtar, when contacted, confirmed that five teenage girls would be charged in connection with Zara Qairina's death. Dusuki said the five would be charged at the Kota Kinabalu Juvenile Court on Wednesday. The A-GC said the decision was b ased on police investigation papers.
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Anwar: No nation is safe when racial hatred thrives
CYBERJAYA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has called on Malaysians to reject attempts to incite racial hatred and not be swayed by those exploiting sensitive issues to divide national unity. Speaking at a town hall during the launch of Multimedia University's (MMU) Faculty of Artificial Intelligence and Engineering (FAIE), he reminded the audience that Malaysians must rise above destructive tendencies. "Remember, we are anak Malaysia who should love our country. "We must put an end to this destructive culture of corruption and racism, of inciting racial hatred, constant quarrelling, provoking and insulting religion or race. "This is not education. Education should lead us towards good and transformation," he said. He added that the country must be safeguarded against such elements, including bullying and abuse. Anwar said that Malaysia is a nation of laws with a firm legal system, and that violations would be dealt with regardless of a person's status or background. "This is a nation of laws with rules that must be respected. The National Unity Ministry exists because, to me, political stability is essential. "This country must also learn from others. Nowhere in the world has racial or religious hatred ever brought safety or stability," he said at the Temu Anwar programme. He was responding to a student's question on government efforts to strengthen unity and combat racism. "No country can remain safe if voices of racial or religious hatred are allowed to flourish. We must be firm in ensuring no one fans such divisions," he said. The prime minister also praised the maturity of today's youth in prioritising unity. "My outlook is very hopeful when I see young people today being positive and mature in their views on unity. But we must also recognise there are still groups trying to incite and distort facts," he added. Citing the death of student Zara Qairina Mahathir, Anwar again stressed that the government has never concealed facts or protected anyone. "If it involves murder or bullying, I don't care whose child it is — if a crime has been committed, we will investigate and prosecute," he said. Also present at the launch were Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil, Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo, Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar and, Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir. MMU's new FAIE will feature state-of-the-art laboratories to foster creativity and collaboration between students, researchers and industry partners, ensuring graduates remain competitive in the digital economy. The faculty will introduce a new Bachelor of Science (Hons) (Applied AI) programme, a three-year full-time course beginning in July 2025. Existing engineering programmes will also be enhanced with AI components to equip students with advanced technological skills. Applied AI covers technologies such as machine learning and automation to address real-world challenges, including smart healthcare, autonomous vehicles, intelligent farming and personalised digital assistants.
