SK BIDOR 2 CHOSEN AS FIRST LOCATION FOR MCMC'S INTERNET SAFETY CAMPAIGN

TAPAH, April 10 (Bernama) -- Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Bidor 2 here has been selected as the first location for the Internet Safety Campaign organised by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC).

Perak Communications, Multimedia and NGO Committee chairman Mohd Azlan Helmi said that the campaign targets schoolchildren as they are considered a high-risk group, vulnerable to manipulation by irresponsible individuals.

"Previously, similar programmes mainly targeted secondary school students, but this time, we are focusing on children under the age of 13.

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"This is because we are seeing an increasing trend of deception, bullying, and so on. Through this campaign, we aim to educate and raise awareness to help protect them from cyber threats,” he told reporters after launching the campaign at the school here today.

Also present were Communications Ministry deputy secretary-general (Telecommunications Infrastructure) Mano Verabathran, Perak Information Department director Yosri Abu Mahsin and state MCMC director Mohd Irwan Mohamed.

The campaign, coordinated by the Ministry of Communications, will be expanded to all primary and secondary schools across Malaysia by the end of this year.

Modules highlighted in the campaign include age restrictions for social media use, the prohibition of children under 13 from having social media accounts, and the risks of cyberbullying, sexual exploitation, hate speech, and the role of parents in protecting their children.

Meanwhile, Mohd Azlan said that a full report on internet access issues in several areas, including the Ayer Kuning state constituency, would be tabled at the state assembly sitting, which will be held from April 15 to 22.

He said that all findings related to this issue were obtained from surveys and visits conducted by the MCMC in the affected locations, with the parties involved preparing the latest report on the matter.

-- BERNAMA