BE FIRM IN MONITORING CHILDREN'S ONLINE ACTIVITIES, WAN AZIZAH TELLS PARENTS

PUTRAJAYA, Oct 16 (Bernama) -- Parents must be firmer and responsible in monitoring their children's activities on social media and online gaming platforms, Prime Minister’s wife Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail said today.

Dr Wan Azizah, who is also chairman of Pertubuhan Kebajikan Amal Silaturahim Isteri-Isteri Harapan Malaysia (Kasih Malaysia), said that consistent supervision is crucial to shield the younger generation from the negative influences of the digital world.

“We were recently shocked by several incidents involving school students, including a rape case that was recorded and circulated, and a murder where a victim was repeatedly stabbed by the perpetrator.

“From now on, please monitor your children, especially their online world, either in social media or online gaming platforms. Keep an eye on them and give them your full attention.

Even the Queen, Her Majesty Raja Zarith Sofiah, has voiced concern over the impact of social media,” she said at the launch of the PsyQiQ Plus and certification programmes by Open University Malaysia (OUM) here.

Dr Wan Azizah also noted that her husband, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, is committed to taking firm action regarding social media usage among the youth, while the Ministry of Education is currently reviewing immediate measures to address the situation.

Just yesterday, Anwar stated that strict action on school discipline and safety, including the growing influence of social media among students, will be discussed at the upcoming Cabinet meeting.

Last Tuesday, a shocking incident occurred at a secondary school in Selangor where a Form Four girl was fatally stabbed by a 14-year-old male student.

This follows a series of disturbing school-related incidents, including a gang rape case in Melaka involving four Form Five boys and a Form Three girl, which led to the immediate expulsion of those involved.

In a related note, Dr Wan Azizah also called for the establishment of more accessible and sustainable psychosocial support services to ensure Malaysians can seek immediate help when needed.

Citing data from the Ministry of Health (MOH) in 2023, she noted that nearly 30 per cent of Malaysian adults experience symptoms of stress, anxiety, or depression.

“We want help channels to be easily accessible, right at your fingertips. I believe mental health issues require a more specific approach, with specialised skills and certified training from legitimate organisations,” Dr Wan Azizah added.

At the event, OUM introduced four new certification programmes, namely Basic Certificate in Counselling, Professional Certificate in Mental Health Counselling, Professional Certificate in Psychology, and Advanced Certificate in Islamic Studies.

Also launched was PsyQiQ Plus, which is a web-based application developed by OUM through a research project to conduct psychometric profiling for students.

The event was also attended by OUM president and vice-chancellor, Prof Dr Ahmad Izanee Awang.

-- BERNAMA