Staying cybersafe
The Star (2 December 2012)

AFTER a year-long nationwide campaign, the DiGi CyberSafe Programme held its final pit-stop in Ipoh at SK Methodist Ayer Tawar.

A strategic partnership between the Education Ministry, CyberSecurity Malaysia, Childline Malaysia, Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission, and DiGi Telecommunications Sdn Bhd, the programme aims to educate participants on how they can protect themselves against online threats and cyber crimes thus equipping them with the right tools to enjoy a secure and family-friendly Internet experience.

Stating that the government was aware of the role technology played as a catalyst to drive the country's growth, Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir said that more strategic alliances between public and private organisations should be carried out to educate children on online child safety.

"According to the data from CyberSecurity Malaysia, as of March this year, there are more than 17 million out of 28 million Malaysians who use the Internet every day. However, while we push for greater state-wide connectivity, we also need to constantly ensure that everyone, particularly children, have a safe and positive online experience," he said.

To spread the message of online child safety, a guidebook is made available to provide parents, caregivers and educators with information and recommendations on the best ways to establish a safer Internet experience for their children and charges.

Through the programme's partnership with Childline Malaysia, children are also provided with access to the 15999 Childline, a 24-hour telephone helpline for children to call should they encounter online threats.

For more information on the DiGi CyberSafe Programme, log on to www.cybersafe.my/dcp.