MEMBAKUT: Digital literacy has become a new responsibility for parents in guiding their children to navigate the online world wisely and safely in line with technological advancement.
Muafakat Titipan Amal Isteri Wakil Rakyat-Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (Mutiara-Grs) President, Datin Seri Panglima Juliah Salag, said the Santuni Kasih: Digital Parenting Programme organised by the National Population and Family Development Board (LPPKN) Sabah in collaboration with Mutiara-Grs and the Membakut District Office, focused on empowering parents through the Digital Parenting Kasih Module.
“Digital parenting is no longer a choice, but a responsibility. In the internet era, which now covers more than 94 per cent of populated areas in Sabah, monitoring children’s gadget use must be taken seriously by parents,” she said when officiating the programme at the Membakut Arts Hall on Tuesday.
Juliah said the module included cyber safety knowledge, media literacy and device control skills with support from agencies such as MCMC, to curb threats like cyberbullying, financial scams, grooming and immoral content.
“Statistics from the Department of Statistics Malaysia showed that over 51,000 harmful online contents were detected in just the first quarter of 2024. Therefore, digital literacy must go hand in hand with moral and emotional literacy at home, in schools and in the community,” she said.
Meanwhile, she said the Women’s Cancer Reproductive Care (WCaRe) campaign, also launched at the same event, expanded access to mammogram screening, HPV DNA tests and reproductive health education for rural women.
She noted that more than 79,000 women nationwide benefited from WCaRe last year, including nearly 9,000 women in Sabah, and this year more are targeted for assistance, especially in the interior.
Juliah also outlined three main expectations from the programme, namely establishing family screen rules, activating parental controls on children’s devices, and holding weekly reviews between parents and children.
“Secondly, women present are encouraged to book health screening slots such as HPV DNA or mammogram, and to share the knowledge gained with neighbours and close friends.
“Thirdly, the local community, including grassroots associations and organisations, are expected to serve as the first point of reference for issues on cyber safety and women’s health,” she added.
A total of 100 participants attended the programme, which highlighted digital-savvy families and health-conscious women as the foundation of community wellbeing.
Also present were Science, Technology and Innovation Minister cum Membakut Assemblyman Datuk Mohd Arifin Mohd Arif and his wife, Datin Lenny Natasha Tun Musa, LPPKN Sabah Director, Shahriah Saharom, Mutiara-Grs Vice President I, Datin Seri Panglima Cecilia Edwin Kitingan, President II cum Mutiara-Grs Welfare Bureau Chairperson, Datin Seri Panglima Linda Ewit, Vice President III cum Mutiara-Grs Honorary Secretary, Datin Dayang Siti Noor Hayyat Awang Mohd Saufi, and Membakut District Officer, Ibrahim Terki.
Muafakat Titipan Amal Isteri Wakil Rakyat-Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (Mutiara-Grs) President, Datin Seri Panglima Juliah Salag, said the Santuni Kasih: Digital Parenting Programme organised by the National Population and Family Development Board (LPPKN) Sabah in collaboration with Mutiara-Grs and the Membakut District Office, focused on empowering parents through the Digital Parenting Kasih Module.
“Digital parenting is no longer a choice, but a responsibility. In the internet era, which now covers more than 94 per cent of populated areas in Sabah, monitoring children’s gadget use must be taken seriously by parents,” she said when officiating the programme at the Membakut Arts Hall on Tuesday.
Juliah said the module included cyber safety knowledge, media literacy and device control skills with support from agencies such as MCMC, to curb threats like cyberbullying, financial scams, grooming and immoral content.
“Statistics from the Department of Statistics Malaysia showed that over 51,000 harmful online contents were detected in just the first quarter of 2024. Therefore, digital literacy must go hand in hand with moral and emotional literacy at home, in schools and in the community,” she said.
Meanwhile, she said the Women’s Cancer Reproductive Care (WCaRe) campaign, also launched at the same event, expanded access to mammogram screening, HPV DNA tests and reproductive health education for rural women.
She noted that more than 79,000 women nationwide benefited from WCaRe last year, including nearly 9,000 women in Sabah, and this year more are targeted for assistance, especially in the interior.
Juliah also outlined three main expectations from the programme, namely establishing family screen rules, activating parental controls on children’s devices, and holding weekly reviews between parents and children.
“Secondly, women present are encouraged to book health screening slots such as HPV DNA or mammogram, and to share the knowledge gained with neighbours and close friends.
“Thirdly, the local community, including grassroots associations and organisations, are expected to serve as the first point of reference for issues on cyber safety and women’s health,” she added.
A total of 100 participants attended the programme, which highlighted digital-savvy families and health-conscious women as the foundation of community wellbeing.
Also present were Science, Technology and Innovation Minister cum Membakut Assemblyman Datuk Mohd Arifin Mohd Arif and his wife, Datin Lenny Natasha Tun Musa, LPPKN Sabah Director, Shahriah Saharom, Mutiara-Grs Vice President I, Datin Seri Panglima Cecilia Edwin Kitingan, President II cum Mutiara-Grs Welfare Bureau Chairperson, Datin Seri Panglima Linda Ewit, Vice President III cum Mutiara-Grs Honorary Secretary, Datin Dayang Siti Noor Hayyat Awang Mohd Saufi, and Membakut District Officer, Ibrahim Terki.
