KUALA LUMPUR: Cyberstalking or online harassment cases are on the rise in Malaysia, according to CyberSecurity Malaysia.
“The number of cyberstalking cases reported until October this year was 151 incidents compared to 72 for the whole of last year,” said CyberSecurity Malaysia chief executive officer Lt Col (retired) Husin Jazri.
“This figure could also be higher because not all harassment cases are reported by the victims,” he added.
Cyberstalking is when an individual or a group of individuals use the Internet or other electronic channels to stalk someone with malicious intentions.
The behaviour of a stalker includes making false accusations, slander, threats and sexual exploitation.
Compromising and abusing a victim’s e-mail accounts, identity theft, and gathering information about victims for the purpose of harassing are also typical behaviours of a stalker, Husin said.
In most cases the stalkers are people known to the victims and these may include the victim’s former partners, ex-spouse, colleagues, friends and competitors.
In Malaysia, the issue of cyber stalking is governed by Communications and Multimedia Act 1998. Any contravention with this provision is a criminal offence where on conviction, the accused may be liable to a fine not exceeding fifty thousand ringgit or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year or to both and shall also be liable to a further fine of one thousand ringgit for everyday or part of a day during which the offence is continued after conviction.
