SHAH ALAM, Oct 18 — Selangor is urging the immediate implementation of child safety measures proposed by the federal government, particularly the move to raise the minimum age for social media use to 16, describing it as a crucial step to protect children and prevent future tragedies.
This comes in the wake of the tragic fatal stabbing of a 16-year-old student at a secondary school in Bandar Utama, Petaling Jaya, with police citing social media influence as a possible factor behind the 14-year-old suspect’s actions.
The federal government is also considering deploying police officers to schools nationwide and conducting more random spot checks as additional safety measures.
State executive councillor for public health and environment Jamaliah Jamaluddin said that while the proposals are timely, any delay would only increase public anxiety.
"The restriction on social media access for those under 16 is now crucial, as we are witnessing the rise of various crimes stemming from inappropriate online content. Such content often promotes bullying, violence, and in some cases, even leads to death.
"Other countries such as Australia have long recognised the dangers of social media misuse, having passed the Online Safety Amendment (Minimum Age for Social Media) Bill 2024, which restricts social media access for individuals under 16.
"Our neighbouring country Singapore has also proposed introducing an age limit for social media use to protect young users and is in close consultation with Australia to follow suit.
"Therefore, I strongly urge that this proposal be implemented immediately so that we can curb social issues from escalating at the earliest possible stage," she said in a statement today.
Jamaliah said that in many discussions and meetings she has attended, social media misuse has been repeatedly linked to mental health problems, often stemming from exposure to harmful or negative content.
"At the state level, we are actively developing the Selangor Mental Health (Sehat) module, which will include elements of anti-bullying education, emotional literacy, and early mental health intervention, specifically for school students."
Jamaliah also urged the federal government to introduce additional security measures for social media registration, such as one-time passwords (OTP), to prevent those under 16 from creating accounts using false information.
"I also fully support other proposals that have been raised. In my view, what is most important now is ensuring that all parties remain focused on how these proposed measures can be successfully implemented.
"We must act together to ensure these proposals and action plans are implemented immediately and without delay, as this is the greatest tribute we can give to the late Shing Xuen and other victims," she said.
On October 14, the nation was shaken by the tragic killing of a Form Four student who was stabbed to death by a Form Two boy inside the girls’ restroom at SMK Bandar Utama Damansara (4).
Initial police investigations revealed that the act was not premeditated but was likely driven by emotional impulses and social media influence.
Yesterday, Menteri Besar Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari announced that the state government would enhance safety measures at the affected school, including the introduction of student registration systems, the use of metal detectors, the installation of closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras, and smart notification systems.
