PETALING JAYA: Cyberbullies can be charged for influencing or abetting the suicides of children and mentally disabled persons under the amendment to the Penal Code, Ramkarpal Singh told the Dewan Rakyat today.
During his winding-up speech, the deputy law and institutional reform minister said the amendments to Sections 305 and 306 will cover the actions of cyberbullies, in order to protect their victims.
“Seeing that they (cyberbullies) are involved in encouraging the victims to take their own lives over an online platform, so, if they are detected and there is evidence (of their crime), and if the victim is a child or a mentally disabled person, we will investigate the case,” he said.
Earlier, the Bukit Gelugor MP said the amendment for Sections 305 and 306 of the Penal Code will include a new category on those who abetted suicide attempts by children and the mentally-disabled.
He added that while the government will act against those who encourage suicide attempts, anyone who attempts suicide will not face any action.
Furthermore, during the second reading of the amendment, Ramkarpal said punitive measures for those influencing these vulnerable groups will be strengthened.