KUALA LUMPUR: Schools using messaging platforms for teacher-student communication must be wary of negative elements such as sexual grooming and pornography, says Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil.

“Based on feedback from the police, this (using such platforms) is frankly quite dangerous. The ministry is studying this.

“I want the internet to be an avenue that is safe for use,” he said when launching the U Mobile digital school initiative here on Tuesday (July 23).

"Be ready to embrace and adopt technology but stay wary of the consequences... so we do not negatively impact ourselves, the community, or the country," he added.

At a press conference later, Fahmi said Bukit Aman's Sexual, Women and Child Investigation Division (D11) had found instances of sexual grooming on online messaging platforms.

"This is the information we received. At the same time, some platforms have been misused to upload pornographic content.

“Generally, any application can be misused by criminals and we are aware that these applications are also used by (schools),” he said.

He urged students encountering such negative elements online, as well as cyberbullying, to report it immediately to a teacher or parent.

On the digital school initiative, Fahmi said a pilot project was conducted at four schools in Bangsar and Pudu.

The digital school initiative will focus on increasing financial literacy and smart money management through a digital payment platform.

This allows public students to perform cashless transactions in schools such as paying for meals at the canteen or purchasing items at school bookstores or cooperatives.

“The aim is to utilise digital technology to help students make cashless transactions in school, (such as) buying food at canteens.

"Parents can deposit a certain amount for their children’s expenditure... (and) are also able to monitor the expenditure in real time,” he said.

U Mobile chief executive officer Wong Heang Tuck said digitalising education is a foundation towards transforming the national landscape as outlined in the Education Ministry's Digital Education Policy.

“There are challenges such as digital literacy and infrastructure alongside sustainable technological investments.

“We hope to play a role in spearheading Malaysia’s digitalisation,” he said.

https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2024/07/23/beware-the-dark-side-of-messaging-platforms-fahmi-cautions-schools