Tune Talk has announced the appointment of former Deputy Chief Police Officer of Selangor, Dato’ Sasikala Devi Subramaniam, as Brand Ambassador for its Epik+ Family Safe family prepaid plan that includes network-level parental controls. As part of the role, Dato’ Sasikala will support Tune Talk’s public education efforts aimed at helping Malaysian parents better understand online risks facing children and the steps available to address them.
Dato’ Sasikala Appointed As Tune Talk Ambassador
Dato’ Sasikala brings more than 35 years of experience with the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM), including senior positions within the Commercial Crime and Narcotics Crime Investigation Departments. Her background in law enforcement offers a public-safety perspective shaped by direct experience with the consequences of inadequate prevention measures.
“Children should not have to choose between being connected and being protected. Parents should not have to face this responsibility alone. Every institution that touches a child’s digital life, from families and schools to operators, platforms, regulators and enforcement agencies, has a role to play before harm becomes a crisis,” she said.
Dato’ Sasikala said children today have greater access to learning, communication and entertainment through digital platforms, but also face increased exposure to age-inappropriate content, cyberbullying, manipulation, scams and exploitation. She said protecting children in this environment requires shifting from responding to harm after it occurs toward building preventive safeguards and awareness earlier on.
While she acknowledged recent regulatory developments, including the Online Safety Act and restrictions on social media accounts for children under 16, as meaningful steps, she said laws and filters alone are insufficient to protect children. She called for a broader approach that includes clearer education around a child’s first phone, family digital agreements, accessible reporting channels, and stronger digital literacy for both parents and children.
Gurtaj Singh Padda, Co-founder and CEO of Tune Talk, said the appointment reflects the company’s view that responsible connectivity should extend beyond simply providing network access. “Families are navigating a digital world that changes rapidly, often without clear or practical guidance. Dato’ Sasikala brings the experience, integrity and public-service perspective needed to make this conversation meaningful. Together, we want to help parents move from awareness to action,” he continued.
Tune Talk’s Epik+ Family Safe plan, described as the world’s first family prepaid plan with network-level protection, was cited as one example of how safety features can be built into a child’s connectivity from the outset. The plan includes network-level parental controls that allow parents to set age-appropriate boundaries, including selectable protection levels and content category blocking.
Dato’ Sasikala said technology should be seen as one component within a broader child-safety framework rather than a complete solution on its own. She said filters can support families but cannot replace conversations about safety, digital literacy, responsible platform practices, school policies or law enforcement involvement. “The strongest safeguard is a child who understands the risks, knows why boundaries exist and knows where to seek help.”
She further noted that greater attention should be paid to how children are introduced to their first connected devices, describing the moment as an opportunity to begin discussions around safety, responsibility and support resources, rather than simply granting access to the digital world; effectiveness of child online safety efforts should be measured by how well harm is prevented, not solely by how incidents are addressed after they occur, and called for safety outcomes to be evaluated through evidence rather than promotional claims.
“Tune Talk will continue engaging parents, educators, policymakers, civil society organizations and industry partners on practical approaches to safer digital participation for children and families,” the company said in its press release.
Pokdepinion: Bringing in someone with decades of enforcement experience to talk digital safety is more reassuring, at least.
