14/01/2026

WEDNESDAY | JAN 14, 2026

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Student aid must be given in full, says Fadhlina NIBONG TEBAL: Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek said the Early Schooling Aid initiative of RM150 per student must be handed over in full to parents, without any deductions, for their children’s school preparation. She said any other payments, including parent-teacher association fees, must be settled separately and must not be deducted from the aid. “This RM150 is allocated by the Madani government specifically for school preparation. “Therefore, it must be handed over in full. “If parents receive even 10 senless, they must inform us (the Education Ministry) because the assistance cannot be reduced,” she told reporters after attending the Penang state-level Bantuan Awal Persekolahan 2026 cheque handover ceremony at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Tun Syed Sheh Barakbah yesterday. She added that the government has allocated over RM800 million for the implementation of the initiative this year, benefiting about 5.2 million students from Year One to Form Six nationwide. She also said the distribution of the assistance has so far proceeded smoothly, with most parents collecting the aid during the first week of the school session, as many had taken leave to send their children to school. Fadhlina expressed hope that the distribution could be completed by this week, as most of the more than 10,000 schools involved have already received the allocations for immediate disbursement. In a separate development, she said the ministry would ensure that all stakeholders, including parents, sign the Student Protection Policy at schools by next week at the latest. She added that the policy addresses issues such as bullying, sexual harassment, abuse and mental health. On Monday, she reaffirmed the commitment of the ministry to tackling bullying in schools, adding that the signing of the policy reflects a collective pledge to care for, nurture and protect students. Meanwhile, she said the ministry would investigate complaints from parents regarding inconsistencies in the boarding school application system and would seek further information to facilitate a thorough investigation. – Bernama

Nadi advisory panel chairmen urged to be proactive SHAH ALAM: All chairmen of the National Information Dissemination Centre (Nadi) advisory panel have been urged to take a more proactive role as a bridge between the government and public to ensure accurate, verified and up-to-date information reaches grassroots communities. false narratives. “Advisory panel members should be among the first to receive accurate information on emerging issues, so they could explain clearly to communities what is actually happening,” he said at the presentation ceremony of appointment letters to Nadi advisory panel chairmen for Selangor and Kuala Lumpur yesterday. Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil said their appointments carry a significant responsibility to strengthen government communications and counter misinformation and He added that Nadi centres in all state constituencies were established following Prime

Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s directive in February 2023, with each constituency required to have at least one centre to bring government services and information closer to the people. “Previously known as Digital Economy Centres, Nadi’s role is much broader. It is not just about the economy, but also information dissemination, community development and capacity building.” Fahmi said rapid technological change demands outreach beyond urban areas. – Bernama

MCMC set to take social media platform X to court

o Move due to abuse of Grok AI tool to generate obscene, offensive content

Ű BY KIRTINEE RAMESH newsdesk@thesundaily.com

SHAH ALAM: Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil yesterday said the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) is set to take social media platform X to court over its AI tool Grok, which has been used to generate obscene and offensive content, particularly targeting children and women. He said the commission would follow up with enforcement measures. He added that several facts are under review and that MCMC would issue a statement with further details. “Last week, MCMC contacted X to obtain feedback on issues with Grok, which has been used to generate offensive and inappropriate images. “This constitutes a violation of our laws, breaching both the Communications and Multimedia Act, and the Online Safety Act.” He said X’s response was “inadequate,” amounting to a pro forma statement. “After reviewing their feedback, I directed a temporary suspension and summoned X for discussions, although legal action remains on the table.” The AI chatbot Grok was temporarily blocked in Malaysia on Jan 11 following repeated misuse to produce obscene, sexually explicit, indecent and non-consensual manipulated images, including content involving minors and women. MCMC had previously issued notices to X Corp and xAI LLC on Jan 3 and Jan 8, demanding effective technical and moderation measures to prevent AI-generated content that violates Malaysian law, including Section 233 of the PETALING JAYA: Planned court action against social media platform X (formerly Twitter) marks a turning point in Malaysia’s fight to protect users from harmful and illegal online content, experts say. International Islamic University Malaysia Communication Department head Assoc Prof Dr Tengku Siti Aisha Tengku Azzman said the move could become a landmark case that compels social media companies to be more vigilant in regulating how their platforms are used. “Stricter enforcement against social media Ű BY QIRANA NABILLA MOHD RASHIDI AND FAIZ RUZMAN newsdesk@thesundaily.com

Fahmi (left) and Amirudin converse with each other during the presentation ceremony at the Dewan Jubli Perak in the Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Building. – AMIRUL SYAFIQ/THESUN

users and participate in local safety initiatives,” he said, adding that MCMC has repeatedly urged tech giants, including Meta and X, to improve moderation and curb online harms such as cyberbullying, scams and suicide-related content. Earlier, Fahmi attended the presentation ceremony of appointment letters to the chairmen of the National Information Dissemination Centre advisory panels for Selangor and Kuala Lumpur. Also present were Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari and State Islamic Affairs and Innovation Culture Committee chairman Dr Mohammad Fahmi Ngah. In his speech at the event, Fahmi also said the ministry aims to secure cooperation from all social media platforms by mid-year to only allow access to users aged 16 and above. Its president Sirajuddin Jalil said the decision reflects a tougher regulatory stance and shows that major platforms can no longer ignore Malaysia’s laws on user protection and content governance. “We support what the government is doing. When it comes to user safety, especially on X, it has not been safe for a long time,” he told theSun yesterday. He added that X has consistently recorded poor compliance compared with other platforms, particularly in addressing cybercrime, misinformation and harmful content. “According to MCMC compliance ratings, X has the lowest level compared with other platforms.

Communications and Multimedia Act. Fahmi emphasised that Malaysia is not alone in taking action. “Many countries, including Indonesia, have already blocked Grok, while others, such as the UK, are considering similar measures. “It lacks sufficient safeguards, and as long as illegal content continues to be published, the platform could face action.” He added that he would work closely with the newly-formed Online Safety Committee, chaired by former Federal Court judge Tan Sri Datuk Sri Hasnah Mohammed Hashim to tackle issues and create a safer internet for children and families. He reiterated that social media companies must be held accountable. “Platforms cannot simply ‘wash their hands’ of harmful content. “They must take stronger action to protect platforms is necessary. They have been warned about this in the past and they need to be more vigilant, and ensure the safety of their users.” She acknowledged that concerns over censorship and freedom of expression are valid, but emphasised that safety should not be compromised. “Enforcement is acceptable as long as users are aware of and accountable for what they post.” The Malaysian Cyber Consumer Association (MCCA) has also voiced support for the government’s consideration of legal action, saying it sends a strong signal to all digital platforms that Malaysia is taking online safety enforcement more seriously.

Legal action could encourage more vigilant regulation: Experts

“Some platforms, such as TikTok and Meta, are more committed. They engage with the government and make visible efforts to comply.” He also emphasised that firm action would not cause a significant economic impact, as alternative platforms already contribute more meaningfully to the country’s digital economy. “X does not operate a marketplace such as TikTok Shop and it does not have strong local engagement (compared with) other platforms. “While it allows in-app monetisation, much of its revenue activity involves adult content and the dark digital economy. “And without government pressure, X will not change. They do not prioritise misinformation control.”