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COMMUNICATIONS Minister Fahmi Fadzil has expressed disappointment over the RM100 fine imposed on the welfare home owner for uttering vulgarities and abusive words via her TikTok account “alphaquinnsha” with the intent to incite anger and disturb the peace.
Fahmi said the minimal fine would not serve as a deterrent considering that the crime had allegedly led to someone’s death.
Welfare home owner Shalini Periasamy, 35, was fined yesterday after pleading guilty in a magistrate’s court to insulting behaviour intending to incite anger and disturb the peace.
The offence – committed at a house in Jalan Ipoh at 4.10am on July 1 – was linked to the death of social media influencer A. Rajeshwary, better known as Esha, who allegedly committed suicide earlier this month.
The charge was framed under Section 14 of the Minor Offences Act, which provides a maximum fine of RM100 upon conviction.
Fahmi said the court had made its decision based on the collected evidence.
“I have reviewed several comments, including those on TikTok by other influencers, who are not only upset with the fine but also with the offender’s apparent lack of remorse for their actions, which are believed to have caused another influencer’s death.
“We need to review the definition of cyberbullying and set the appropriate penalties for it,” Fahmi told reporters after delivering a keynote address at the KL Startup Summit 2024 in Kuala Lumpur.
He said the government would review existing legislation to ensure penalties commensurate with cybercrimes.
“As Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo and Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said mentioned, we need to review the definition of bullying and determine appropriate penalties.
“In the second case, we see the use of Section 233 for network abuse, where the fine is RM50,000, which is more significant,” he said. – July 17, 2024.
