Speaking in the Dewan Rakyat today, Fahmi said their efforts would deter users from commenting as they like in live streams.

“Some frequently assume that it’s okay for them to comment (as they like) in live streams because (the comments) will disappear. That is not true,” he said during Minister’s Question Time.

Ahmad Fadhli Shaari (PN-Pasir Mas) had asked about the government’s efforts to enact laws against cyberbullying.

His question followed the death of TikTok influencer A Rajeswary, or Esha, who allegedly took her own life after being cyberbullied.

Fadhli also asked Fahmi to clarify how the government intends to align its efforts against cyberbullying with its laws on freedom of speech.

Fahmi said it was the responsibility of social media platforms to regulate and be responsible for comments uploaded to their websites.

“I would like to remind the Dewan of the Federal Court decision in 2021 concerning the comment uploaded by a reader on a media portal’s website,” he said.

Fahmi was likely referring to the Federal Court’s decision in February 2021 on Malaysiakini, which found the news portal guilty of contempt and fined it RM500,000 for publishing a report on which several readers had left comments critical of the judiciary.