240 Primary Pupils In Selangor Join Safe Internet Campaign

SHAH ALAM, July 26 (Bernama) -- A total of 240 pupils from 12 primary schools around Shah Alam took part in the Safe Internet Campaign (KIS) organised by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to raise digital safety awareness among children.

Selangor Islamic Affairs and Cultural Innovation Committee chairman Dr Mohammad Fahmi Ngah said such programmes were crucial for the state, which has one of the best internet coverage and infrastructure in the country.

He said one of the issues identified by MCMC is children under 13 using social media accounts they are not allowed to have, with some even holding multiple accounts at a very young age.

“What matters most is awareness and education, including parental controls. Campaigns like this are good to address related concerns,” he told reporters after visiting the Selangor-level KIS exhibition at Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Seksyen 9 here today.

Also present were Shah Alam Member of Parliament Azli Yusof and MCMC Chief State Affairs Officer Bukhari Yahya.

The campaign is also being held at SK Seksyen 6, 7, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, SK Shah Alam, SK Kota Kemuning, SK Padang Jawa and SK Bandar Anggerik, involving 24 teachers using KIS modules tailored for Standards 1 and 2 pupils.

Mohammad Fahmi said the state is targeting 900 schools in Selangor to participate by next year and is considering expanding the campaign to university students, parents and senior citizens.

“I reviewed the modules introduced by MCMC and noted the need for safe internet use in public spaces such as mosques. We have more than 40 mosques, and internet there is mostly used by senior citizens.

“We need to create features to protect them from scams or inappropriate content, but for now we are focusing on schools,” he said.

Meanwhile, Communications Ministry Deputy Secretary-General (Infrastructure and Communication) Mano Verabathran said KIS has so far been implemented in more than 400 schools and two higher learning institutions nationwide, involving 1,099 trainers from the National Information Dissemination Centre (NADI).

He said a Training of Trainers (TOT) programme has been launched to increase the number of trainers and help the campaign achieve its target of 10,000 schools nationwide by year-end.

“We have also mobilised university students as trainers to conduct sessions in nearby schools. More schools will be exposed to KIS in the coming months.

“Each time KIS is held, we remain committed to raising awareness among primary pupils to say no to social media, while encouraging secondary and university students to use it more responsibly,” he added.

-- BERNAMA