January 25, 2011 18:40 PM

Rising Cyber Offences Worrying, Says Ongkili

LABIS, Jan 25 (Bernama) - Cyber offences in this country are worrying as an annual increase of at least 20 per cent has been recorded, said Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili.

He said last year alone, the Cyber999 Help Centre (Malaysia Computer Emergency Response Team) managed by the Cyber Security Unit, an agency under the ministry, recorded 8,090 incidents of cyber crime or offence compared with 3,564 in 2009, an increase of 127 per cent.

"Among the unhealthy activities detected were politically-motivated personal attacks, pornography, fraud and spreading of computer virus."

He said this after handing over the Sirim Smart Learning Programme to three schools each, namely SK Sawah Baru, SJKC Labis and SJKT Ladang Voules at SK Sawah Baru, here Tuesday.

Up to September last year, there were 17 million users of the Internet and 7.6 million users of Facebook, the social network service and website.

Ongkili reminded Internet users, especially Facebook users, to be more responsible and not become anti-government agents by disseminating anti-government statements posted by certain quarters.

He also advised Facebook users to be more careful when disclosing personal information as it could be used for bad intentions.

On the Sirim Smart Learning Programme which involves the use of the special interactive white board equipped with a CPU, projector and smart software, among others, Ongkili said it could create keener learning interest in the classroom.

Costing RM35,000, it was first introduced in SK Nanga Kesit in Lubok Antu, Sarawak in 2009 and was being evaluated by the Education Ministry in making it a compulsory teaching device in schools.

Nine schools, comprising nine in Sabah, eight in Sarawak, five in Kelantan and four in Selangor have benefited from the programme.

- BERNAMA