Any form of bullying is a no-no, says Fahmi

The Star

4 hours ago

KLANG: Any form of bullying, whether online or offline, is unacceptable, says Datuk Fahmi Fadzil ( pic ).
'The new amendment to Section 507 of the Penal Code now makes bullying, including cyberbullying, a criminal offence, the Communications Minister said.
He said the government wanted to ensure that online spaces stay safe, respectful and inclusive for all.
'The Ministry and MCMC will act firmly, seek removal of harmful content from online platform providers, and prosecute offenders,'' Fahmi said.
The Penal Code (Amendment) Act 2025 and the Criminal Procedure Code (Amendment) Act 2025, which Fahmi was referring to, will allow the authorities to severely deal with bullies who threaten, insult, defame and share personal information about their targets to cause them (the targets) emotional distress and fear.
Cyberbullying, however, has become a daily habit for many.
Besides vile name calling and threats, bullies would also flaunt photographs of their targets, sometimes doctored, on their TikTok FYPs (For You Page) with horrendous narratives.
More often than not, the bullies, both men and women, target successful women entrepreneurs and humiliate them as well as initiate various tactics to sabotage their businesses.
Hypnotherapist and healer Olivia Lopez has been bullied since 2020 by a man who has also uploaded photos of her father, siblings and children on social media.
A few others have since joined forces with the aggressor to allegedly humiliate Lopez on TikTok.
'The man who has been bullying me all these years, and his friends, have also called very early in the morning to shout vulgarities at me,'' said Lopez who conducts ritual flower baths (mandi bunga) and alum reading services, besides selling incense and potions.
The same man has also been hounding NS Danaletchumy who sells lucky charms, incense as well as various other items.
According to Danaletchumy, he has uploaded a video of her on his FYP, goading her and mocking the services she offered.
'I have a WhatsApp group to share information with my clients as well as provide lucky numbers.
'He encroached into the WhatsApp channel and threatened to send a virus to their phones which resulted in 600 of my followers fleeing the group,'' she said.
As for Melaka-based P. Niveetha Vani, she did not expect a hostile visit from 15 men after her husband P. Navin got into an argument with one of them on TikTok.
Navin had defended a woman who was being harassed on social media.
'My husband reprimanded the bullies and this ended up in an argument in a live TikTok session,' said Niveetha.
She said the man turned up with his friends at a night market in Johor, where Niveetha and her husband had a stall selling drinks and snacks, to intimidate them.
Earlier this week Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Insti­tu­tional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said had warned against bullying, harassment, insults and identity misuse that were now crimes under the amended legislation.