Don: Educational, awareness campaigns more effective in combatting cyberbullying

KUCHING (July 15): An academician Dr Muzaffar Syah Mallow believes that educational and awareness campaigns are more effective than legislation in combatting cyberbullying.

The Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia Faculty of Syariah and Law associate professor said the government should carry out educational and awareness campaigns on a regular basis to keep the community informed of the impact of cyberbullying.

“The society needs to be constantly educated about this issue and awareness efforts need to be carried out in schools and universities as well so that students have early exposure to cyberbullying.

“Cyberbullying includes sending, posting or sharing negative, harmful, false or mean content about someone else. This includes sharing personal information, causing embarrassment or humiliation to others. Some cyberbullying crosses the line and ends up as unlawful or criminal behaviour.

“Cyberbullying may involve feeling humiliated, depression, anger, frustration, loss of confidence, feelings of worthlessness, low self-esteem, increase in family problems, academic difficulties, violence in school or universities and having suicidal thoughts,” he said in a statement today.

Muzaffar said if the government insists on creating a law to address cyberbullying, such law should specifically address this issue without suppressing freedom of speech.

He believed that encouraging people to speak up in their defence will contribute to societal progress and benefit the entire nation.

“Freedom of speech and expression is part of basic human rights as stipulated under Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) 1948 and recognised in international human rights law in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) 1966,” he said.

He stressed that freedom of speech and expression is also protected under Federal Constitution – the highest law of Malaysia – and highlighted that Article 10(1)(a) of the Federal Constitution guarantees every citizen’s right to freedom of speech and expression.

He asserted since freedom of speech and expression is safeguarded by both international conventions and the country’s Constitution, no one should be denied this fundamental right.

Muzaffar also pointed out that there is no absolute freedom of speech since people are expected to respect the rights and reputation of others for the protection of national security, public order, public health and moral.

“Though we have limitation to such freedom, it does not mean that we should deprive people of their right to speak and express dissenting or constructive views and opinions,” he added.