MCMC blocks 155 websites this year

Jailani: Web pages with child sexual abuse content barred to ensure safe online environment

PUTRAJAYA: Access to 155 websites with child sexual abuse content were blocked this year, said Communications and Multimedia Deputy Minister Datuk Seri Jailani Johari.

He said the move by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission ( MCMC) was among initiatives to ensure a safe online environment for children. He said the websites were blocked under provisions in the Communications and Multimedia Act.

“Most of the time, MCMC will act after receiving an official complaint from the public.

“If the websites are based abroad, the commission will reach out for help from international web providers,” said Jailani, after opening the Child Online Protection In Asean seminar here.

Other measures by the Government to protect children from sexual crimes, such as online grooming, include the enactment of the Sexual Offences Act 2017.

“We also introduced a special court for children,” he said.

Jailani added the Cabinet in 2015 had approved the Plan of Action on Child Online Protection which allowed stakeholders to develop programmes on continuous advocacy, prevention and early inter- vention in line with international standards, he said.

Jailani added that MCMC had also embarked on an awareness campaign called “Click Wisely”, that promotes self-regulation.

From 2015 to 2016, the campaign had carried out 800 programmes that reached 1.7 million individuals besides establishing more than 80 collaborations with strategic partners, he said.

Jailani said sex education in schools could help address the problem of online safety for children but not fully.

“The fact is, the Government alone cannot solve the problem, parents too need to monitor what their children do at home and when they go online. I am also speaking as a parent here,” said Jailani.

About 200 participants from NGOs, government agencies and the telecommunications industry attended the two-day seminar.