Adding sharenting provisions to Child Act can be considered, says Nancy
Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri Minister of Women Family and Community Development with childrens during Unicef Malaysia 70th anniversary in conjunction with the World’s Children’s Day. — AZHAR MAHFOF/The Star
KUALA LUMPUR: Provisions to cover “sharenting” under the Child Act 2001 are up for consideration, says Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri.
The authorities have been advocating against parents and guardians sharing potentially sensitive images and information of their children online, the Women, Family and Community Development Minister said.
“We have been discouraging sharenting through (various channels),” she told reporters after a World Children’s Day and Unicef’s 70th anniversary in Malaysia event here on Wednesday (Nov 20).
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“This is because children are supposed to be protected from perpetrators who might take advantage of the information shared.
“But if there is a need for us to come up with a law, we will look into that.
“After all, we are still amending our Child Act, so we will see if we can add to it,” she said.
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Also present at the event were Unicef representative Robert Gass, UN Children’s Fund resident coordinator in Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei Darussalam Karima El Korri, and Datin Paduka Marina Mahathir.
Recently, The Star reported on the need for a comprehensive legal framework to address concerns of sharenting, whereby the seemingly innocent act of parents or guardians sharing photos or videos of their children on social media can put them in harm’s way.
Separately, Nancy also acknowledged that 26.8% of the 266 children rescued from GISB Holdings Sdn Bhd (GISB) in Selangor were stunted, as revealed by Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari on Tuesday (Nov 19).
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She said the children have been screened both by the Social Welfare Department and Health Ministry with steps taken to ensure their well-being.
Nancy added that it has also been widely reported the children are also suffering from depression, and counsellors have been taking action.
Amirudin had said 78 of the children involved suffered from depression, mostly at a mild level, while 89 suffered from anxiety.
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