Paedophiles on Telegram: Special committee investigating claims - MCMC

The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has set up a special committee to investigate claims on social media on the presence of a local paedophile group on the Telegram messaging application.

MCMC Enforcement and Investigations Department head Datin Mai Zairani Zainal Abidin said the Special Committee on Eradicating Social Media Abuse, comprising the commission, the Attorney-General's Chamber and the police, was investigating the matter.

"Although no official report has been lodged, the special committee has started its investigation on the matter," she told a media conference here today.

The presence of the group was revealed by human rights activist Syed Azmi Alhabshi on his Facebook.

Mai Zairani said cases involving paedophiles were normally investigated by the police, while MCMC would conduct forensic investigation on the platform used by them to communicate.

He said the commission received 62 complaints on abuse of the social media between January and May this year, an increase of 63 per cent from the corresponding period last year.

"For the first five months of this year, four cases have been charged in court under Section 233 of the MCMC Act, while hearings of four other cases are ongoing," she added.

She said the law provides imprisonment for up to a year and maximum fine of RM50,000 against the offenders.

The commission, she said, also settled for compound fines against two individuals and was investigating the remaining cases.

She said the complaints received by MCMC were made through various channels, including lodged at the MCMC office, made online through the MCMC official website and also via other enforcement agencies.

The complaints were over postings among others which were obscene, lewd and intimidating materials, as well as false information, she added.

The public can lodge their complaints by calling MMCMC at 1 800 188 030, e-mail to aduanskmm@cmc.gov.my or via whatsapp to +60162206262.