BTH: Bullying crackdown, Zara Qairina inquest & NST 'Heard the News?'
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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