Social media age verification rules welcomed amid rise in child cyber exploitation

 

CHILD protection advocates have welcomed Malaysia’s new minimum age requirement for social media account registration, describing it as a timely step to help protect children from growing online threats, including grooming, sextortion and child sexual exploitation.

The age verification requirement, enforced under the Child Protection Code (CPC) and Risk Mitigation Code (RMC) pursuant to the Online Safety Act 2025 (ONSA), came into effect yesterday.

Under the new regulations, individuals under the age of 16 are no longer permitted to open social media accounts.

Protect and Save the Children executive director Amnani Abdul Kadir said the measure was necessary given the increasing prevalence of online sexual exploitation involving emotional manipulation, threats and the circulation of abusive content.

She said cybercriminals often use fake identities on social media platforms and online games to gain the trust of children before exploiting them.

“Predators typically study a child’s behaviour, interests and emotional vulnerabilities before initiating contact through seemingly harmless interactions such as praise, friendship or emotional support.

“Many children are unaware they are being exploited because the manipulation occurs gradually. The emotional impact can be severe, particularly when abusive material is recorded and repeatedly shared online, causing long-term trauma,” she told Bernama.

Amnani revealed that her organisation handled a case in February involving a child allegedly exploited by her own guardian, who manipulated and forced the victim to produce sexual content for live streaming purposes.

She also pointed to the seizure of nearly 500,000 Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) files during Ops Cyber Guardian in April as evidence of the growing scale of online child exploitation in Malaysia.

According to Amnani, the actual number of cases could be significantly higher. She noted that the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) recorded more than 312,000 reports of CSAM last year, with new material appearing online on average every 101 seconds.

While supporting the government’s decision to set the minimum age for social media accounts at 16, Amnani said age restrictions alone would not be sufficient without broader efforts to strengthen digital literacy and online safety awareness.

She called for stronger age verification systems, enhanced cyber safety education in schools and greater accountability among technology companies through a “safety by design” approach.

Meanwhile, Children’s Protection Society Malaysia vice-chairperson Nawiza Ariff described the restriction as a positive first step but cautioned that technologically savvy children could still find ways to circumvent age-based controls.

She said parents must move beyond simply monitoring screen time and instead develop a better understanding of children’s online behaviour, privacy settings, gaming platforms and digital communication features.

“Protecting children online requires a holistic approach involving effective legislation, stronger accountability from technology companies, cyber safety education in schools and sustained public awareness efforts.

“Most importantly, we must create an environment where children feel safe speaking up without fear, shame or punishment. Protecting children online is no longer optional. It is a shared national responsibility,” she said.

Under the new regulations, individuals registering for social media accounts must provide government-issued identification documents such as a MyKad, passport or MyDigital ID for age verification.

The requirement applies to licensed social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube. ‒  Focus Malaysia

Ending bullying starts before another child gets hurt

 

MALAYSIA’S conversation about bullying remains incomplete.

Whenever a bullying case captures public attention, the focus understandably falls on the victim. We ask how the child was harmed, whether the school failed in its duty of care, and what punishment should be imposed on those responsible.

These are important questions. However, there is another question we often avoid: how do we prevent bullying behaviour from developing in the first place?

Unless we address the roots of bullying, we will continue responding to incidents after the damage has already been done.

Children are not born as bullies. While some may be more aggressive, impulsive or socially dominant than others, harmful behaviours are often shaped by a combination of family dynamics, peer influence, social environments and learned responses.

When a child repeatedly humiliates classmates, excludes others or derives satisfaction from causing distress, the behaviour should be taken seriously and addressed early.

This requires honesty from everyone involved, especially parents.

When schools inform parents that their child has engaged in bullying behaviour, the first reaction is often denial.

“My child would never do that.”

“The other children are exaggerating.”

“The teacher is targeting my child.”

Such responses are understandable, but they rarely help the child. Acknowledging problematic behaviour is not an admission of failure as a parent. It is the first step towards helping a child develop empathy, accountability and healthier ways of interacting with others.

(Image: Unsplash/Benson Low)

Parents should never be shamed for seeking help when concerns arise. On the contrary, recognising a problem and addressing it early is a sign of responsibility.

Schools also have a critical role to play.

While academic achievement remains important, schools must place equal emphasis on character development and emotional wellbeing.

A student who repeatedly intimidates others or creates fear among peers should receive the same level of attention as a student facing serious academic difficulties.

Bullying today is often more subtle than many adults realise.

Physical aggression is usually easy to identify. Emotional and social bullying are far harder to detect. A child may never throw a punch yet still cause significant harm through exclusion, manipulation, rumours or online harassment.

These behaviours leave no visible injuries, but their psychological impact can be profound and long-lasting.

Teachers therefore need adequate training to recognise early warning signs and respond appropriately. Schools should establish confidential reporting mechanisms, monitor repeated patterns of behaviour and provide timely interventions, including counselling and behavioural support where necessary.

Importantly, these interventions should involve both the child and the family.

Malaysia must also move beyond the outdated notion that bullying is simply part of growing up.

Bullying is not a rite of passage. It is not character-building, and it should never be dismissed as harmless childhood behaviour.

Research has consistently shown that victims of bullying face increased risks of anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, academic difficulties and long-term psychological distress.

Less frequently discussed is the fact that children who engage in persistent bullying behaviour may themselves face future social, emotional and behavioural challenges if the underlying issues are not addressed.

That is why effective anti-bullying strategies must focus on prevention as well as protection.

A useful principle is that true strength is measured not by how we treat those weaker than ourselves, but by how we support and uplift them. Empathy, kindness and respect should be regarded as essential life skills, not optional values.

A nation’s future is shaped not only by what its children know, but by the character they develop along the way.

If Malaysia is serious about tackling bullying, parents must be willing to acknowledge concerns when they arise.

Teachers must be equipped to recognise harmful behaviour early. Schools must intervene consistently and constructively before patterns become entrenched.

The goal is not to label children. It is to guide them.

Protecting victims will always be essential but lasting progress depends on our willingness to address bullying behaviour early, before more children are harmed. 

KT Maran is a Focus Malaysia viewer.

The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of  MMKtT

- Focus Malaysia.

Beyond the factory floor: Can Malaysia become a medtech innovator?

 

THE Thirteenth Malaysia Plan (RMK13), the New Industrial Master Plan 2030 (NIMP 2030) and ASEAN 2045 all emphasise innovation, resilience and high-value industries. Medical technology frequently appears on that list of future growth sectors.

The more important question, however, is whether Malaysia is building the ecosystem needed to support genuine medical innovation.

Medical devices may not command the same public attention as elections, fuel prices or major infrastructure projects, but they sit at the heart of everyday healthcare.

A blood pressure monitor in a rural clinic, a prosthetic limb used during rehabilitation, or a portable diagnostic device in an overcrowded emergency department are often the technologies through which people experience healthcare services.

Malaysia has established itself as an important manufacturing base for products such as gloves, catheters and surgical consumables. That achievement should not be underestimated.

However, manufacturing success alone does not make a country an innovation leader.

The challenge now is whether Malaysia can move beyond being a reliable production hub and become a nation capable of designing technologies that address ASEAN’s healthcare realities.

That distinction matters because medical innovation is fundamentally different from conventional manufacturing.

(Image: Unsplash/Marcelo Leal)

Producing established products at scale is not the same as developing new technologies that must undergo years of research, prototyping, clinical validation, regulatory review and post-market monitoring.

Medical device development is expensive, complex and uncertain.

Yet many companies continue to operate within a “follow-and-improve” model, adopting technologies developed elsewhere before modifying them for local markets.

While this approach can sustain exports and manufacturing growth, it rarely produces globally competitive intellectual property or deep technological capabilities.

In short, it strengthens production capacity without necessarily building innovation leadership.

If Malaysia is serious about becoming a regional medtech leader, funding priorities must reflect that ambition.

High-end medical technologies require multidisciplinary teams, clinical partnerships, regulatory expertise, advanced testing facilities and long-term investment. The development timeline is often measured in years, if not decades.

This creates an inevitable tension. Policymakers understandably seek measurable outcomes, while investors often favour sectors offering faster and more predictable returns. However, breakthrough medical technologies rarely emerge from short-term thinking.

Industry faces similar choices. Expanding production capacity for proven products is far less risky than investing in first-in-class technologies with uncertain commercial prospects. Imported designs and licensing agreements reduce risk. Building original platforms does not.

Over time, ecosystems can become optimised for certainty rather than innovation.

That may make commercial sense in the short term, but it limits a country’s ability to lead.

The world’s leading medtech ecosystems did not emerge through cautious investment alone. They developed strong links between universities, hospitals, regulators, investors and industry, while accepting that meaningful innovation carries a significant risk of failure.

Malaysia cannot expect similar outcomes while remaining uncomfortable with uncertainty.

At institutions such as Pusat Kanser Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi (PKTAAB), Universiti Sains Malaysia, collaborations between clinicians, engineers and researchers increasingly reflect this reality.

(Image: Unsplash/Ousa Chea)

Advances in biomaterials, regenerative medicine, diagnostics and digital health require integrated ecosystems capable of moving ideas from the laboratory to the bedside safely and effectively.

This is particularly important in ASEAN, where healthcare systems often operate under constraints very different from those found in wealthier economies.

Designing for the region means creating technologies that are not only advanced, but also affordable, durable, scalable and suited to real-world clinical environments.

This is where the idea of the “bottom billions” becomes important.

Innovation should not be measured solely by technological sophistication. It should also be judged by accessibility, affordability and impact.

A device that improves healthcare outcomes for underserved communities across ASEAN may ultimately be more valuable than a technically impressive solution that remains beyond the reach of most patients.

The real test of Malaysia’s ambition is therefore not how many policy documents it produces or pilot projects it launches. It is whether the country is willing to commit to the difficult and expensive process of building original capabilities over the long term.

Medical innovation cannot thrive on slogans alone.

If Malaysia wants to become a meaningful medtech leader in ASEAN, government, academia, regulators and industry must align around the same long-term objective: developing technologies that solve real healthcare problems for the people who need them most.

Otherwise, Malaysia may continue manufacturing the future without ever truly designing it. 

The author, Prof Dr Badrul Hisham Yahaya is the Deputy Director (Research & Networks) of Pusat Kanser Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) and the President of Malaysian Society for Stem Research and Therapy.

The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of  MMKtT.

- Focus Malaysia.

JAIS forbids “no pork, no lard” signage, netizens say challenge accepted

IN MALAYSIA, food is serious business. Add religion, regulations and signboards into the recipe and what emerges is often less a discussion and more a nationwide seasoning of outrage.

So when Jabatan Agama Islam Selangor (JAIS) issued its latest reminder on halal-related terminology, the internet immediately prepared its favourite dish — hot takes served piping hot. 

According to JAIS, businesses lacking halal certification cannot use the phrases “Muslim-friendly” or “no pork, no lard”.

In a video shared earlier this month, JAIS said such descriptions could create the impression that products or services comply with halal requirements.

The department stressed that without official Malaysian Halal Certification, consumers have no assurance that halal standards are fully observed.

JAIS said halal compliance involves more than just ingredients, covering areas such as sourcing of raw materials, preparation processes and cleanliness standards.

It also pointed out that the Trade Descriptions Act 2011 prohibits businesses from using labels or claims that may mislead consumers.

JAIS explained that the phrase “no pork, no lard” only indicates the absence of pork, but does not address other concerns such as alcohol, cross-contamination, or non-halal gelatin.

Netizens were quick to respond to this new ruling, as seen in the comment section on a post by says.com which carried the news.

“What’s wrong with that? Some Chinese don’t eat pork and they need to know. This is getting out of hand,” said Alex KY Tee while Daniel Mester sarcastically remarked that soon people need halal blood to apply for the certs.

A good number of netizens have since come up with alternatives to bypass the ruling which many deem as ridiculous.

Cks Gary said people can just put up a “Non-halal, No pork no lard,” sign. Then there was Alwin Cheng who made light of the situation by suggesting the sign, “No Peppa & Its Fat.”

Perhaps the winning comment goes to Kecey Heong and this was what he said:

The news has since opened a can of worms with Shahril Azmir pointing out the fact that cigarettes are haram too, but the majority of smokers in Malaysia are Malays.

Also, it has prompted JC Cesar to ask JAIS to speed up and make halal certification for businesses easier.

Cyril Augustine Yee Kelvin further remarked that JAIS cannot punish the non Muslims.

Away from the comment section and under Paragraph 4(1) of the Trade Descriptions (Halal Certification and Marking) Order 2011, it is an offence to mislead consumers about the halal status of food or services. 

The order states, “Any person who supplies or offers to supply any food through any representation or act which is likely to mislead or confuse any person that the food is halal or can be consumed by a Muslim commits an offence.” — Focus Malaysia