COMMUNICATIONS Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil has condemned threats against Universiti Malaya student Ummi Umairah Bakhit over remarks she made at a public forum, saying disagreement was no excuse for intimidation.
Fahmi said threats to track down the student at her university were unacceptable, stressing that students had the right to express their views on matters of public interest.
“We can have different views, and that is not a problem. In Ummi’s case, she expressed her views, and we know that university students now have the right to speak up.
“We should welcome this because she has not violated any laws, nor has she committed any criminal offence. She only addressed matters concerning corruption,” he told reporters after attending the Smart Parents Interactive Hub Programme.
Fahmi said the focus should be on the substance of Ummi’s remarks, even if some disagreed with her tone or the way she delivered them.
Her comments reflected a desire to see Malaysia reject corruption and kleptocracy, he said, adding that differences of opinion should not lead to personal attacks or threats.
Ummi came under fire on social media after questioning, during a recent open forum with UMNO leaders, why members of the public were contributing money to help former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak pay a RM50 million fine imposed by the court.
Her remarks drew a backlash, including comments containing threats against her.
Fahmi urged victims of cyberbullying to lodge reports with the police and the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to help the authorities identify those responsible and take action under the law.
He said the MCMC would assess the action that could be taken in Ummi’s case, adding that the regulator would not simply wait for complaints before looking into suspected online offences.
MCMC probes suspected fake accounts targeting royals
Separately, Fahmi said he respected Sultan Ibrahim’s reminder that social media users must observe proper etiquette and show respect when communicating online.
He cautioned users against assuming that fake accounts offered protection from the consequences of their actions.
The MCMC is investigating suspected coordinated inauthentic behaviour involving accounts allegedly targeting Sultan Ibrahim and Negeri Sembilan Yang di-Pertuan Besar Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir, Fahmi said.
More than 2,000 pieces of AI-generated or highly offensive content, along with 600 fake accounts, had been identified in connection with material insulting the King, he said.
Preliminary investigations indicated that most of the Facebook accounts involved were believed to have originated overseas. The investigation is ongoing.
“If we positively identify specific individuals, we will strive to bring them to justice,” he said.
On the suspected activity targeting Tuanku Muhriz, Fahmi said some accounts appeared to have been created about a month earlier before being used to circulate insulting remarks about the royal institution.
Some had no followers or only one follower, raising suspicions that they had been created for a specific purpose, he said.
Government reviews safeguards for WhatsApp users
Fahmi said the government was also studying whether tighter regulatory measures were needed to address cyberbullying on instant messaging platforms, including WhatsApp.
Possible measures include electronic Know Your Customer (eKYC) procedures and age verification.
Although WhatsApp has set a minimum age of 16 for users, Fahmi said concerns remained over the safety of younger users, particularly schoolchildren.
He noted that end-to-end encryption presented additional challenges in addressing harmful communications on the platform.
“Under the Online Safety Act 2025 (ONSA), communication services such as WhatsApp are not currently covered.
“As such, I will request that MCMC examine the matter and engage with Meta, which introduced WhatsApp, as the platform itself has set a minimum age requirement,” he said. – October 18, 2026