Exploring the Digital Landscape in Malaysia
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
EXPLORING THE DIGITAL LANDSCAPE IN MALAYSIA Access and use of digital technologies by children and adolescents © United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Malaysia, November 2014 This desk review was produced by UNICEF Voices of Youth and the Communication Section of UNICEF Malaysia. It was initiated in 2013 and authored by Katarzyna Pawelczyk (NYHQ) and Professor Kuldip Kaur Karam Singh (Malaysia), and supported by Indra Nadchatram (UNICEF Malaysia). The publication was designed by Salt Media Group Sdn Bhd and printed by Halus Sutera Sdn Bhd. Permission is required to reproduce any part of this publication. Permission will be freely granted to educational or non-profit organisations. To request permission and for other information on the publication, please contact: UNICEF Malaysia Wisma UN, Block C, Level 2 Kompleks Pejabat Damansara Jalan Dungun, Damansara Heights 50490 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Tel: (6.03) 2095 9154 Email: [email protected] All reasonable precautions have been taken by UNICEF to verify the information contained in this publication as of date of release. ISBN 978-967-12284-4-9 www.unicef.my 4 Exploring the Digital Landscape in Malaysia Foreword or Click Wisely programme It is hoped that the data from was launched in 2012. This the studies can be utilized to programme incorporates the promote an informed civil values enshrined in the Rukun society where online services Negara, and is also aligned will provide the basis of with Malaysian values, ethics continuing enhancements and morals, as well as the to quality of work and life, National Policy Objectives especially for young people. of the Communications and Therefore, we encourage Multimedia Act 1998. more parties to contribute to the knowledge on Malaysian MCMC’s approach in youth digital experiences As Malaysia moves towards developing national policies so that we can continuously its goal of becoming a and initiatives has always enhance our efforts to keep developed nation by the year been substantiated by strong our children safe from online 2020, an increasing number evidence-based studies. In abuses and threats. of Malaysians have adopted this regard, in addition to its the online or digital lifestyle own survey on household Mohamed Sharil Tarmizi and have joined other digital Internet users, MCMC also Chairman citizens of the world. The collaborates with local Malaysian Communications success of the Malaysian institutions of higher learning and Multimedia Commission National Broadband Initiatives through the Networked has seen the broadband Media Research Collaboration household penetration rate Programme (NMRCP). The reach new highs at 67.3 per NMRCP is now in its sixth year cent as at the end of 1st and has conducted a number Quarter 2014. of studies on the social impact of Internet usage on Whilst Malaysians are individuals and the community enjoying the benefits from in both quantitative and online services everywhere qualitative ways. across the country, the Malaysian Communications The desk review conducted by and Multimedia Commission UNICEF and any subsequent (MCMC) is cognizant of the studies from it could lead increasing need to safeguard to better information and them, especially children who understanding of Internet are the most vulnerable, from access and use by the threats and risks related to Malaysian public. We believe the Internet. Based on the the desk review is a useful Internet Users Survey 2012 reference to prior studies conducted by MCMC, 37.9 per that have been done on the cent of the users in Malaysia state of children’s online are under 24 years old and experience in Malaysia and the number of young children will provide valuable insights exposed to digital devices is into new research areas to also rising. As such there is a be considered by all parties need to ensure these young interested in advancing the children are taught to be digital citizenship project. safe, secure and responsible online users so that their experiences online are positive ones; and with this mind, the Klik Dengan BijakTM (KDB) 5 Foreword of Generation Z are growing on the leadership Malaysia up in a world where global has already shown to create social media, crowdsourcing, a safe and enabling Internet open platform-education and environment for children, and sharing, are giving them a identifies knowledge gaps in chance for unprecedented the media practices and online engagement and civic safety of children and youth. influence, as agents of change The Review also recommends in a changing world. opportunities to leverage and strengthen existing initiatives The CRC has always ensured to promote and deliver Digital a child’s right to information Literacy for all children, The children of the 21st and to participation. adolescents and youth in the century, often referred to as Authentic participation is country. Generation Z, are those born the kind that empowers and after 1995, born into the digital engages children, the kind Together with our partner, the age – a transformational that acknowledges they are Malaysian Communication generation living in a the best, most eloquent, and Multimedia Commission, transformative time. spokespeople and interpreters as well as stakeholders in of their world and of their government, the private They are a huge group – 2 experiences. sector, NGOs and children billion children worldwide. themselves, we hope to As members of Generation Z, While there are huge numbers encourage and empower they are described as digital of children online, with a children and youth in Malaysia natives, screenagers, wired household Internet access to use ICT safely, responsibly, from the crib; who don’t just rate of over 60 per cent in a pro-social way to represent the future but are (2011) in Malaysia, many create positive change for already actively involved in girls and boys still do not themselves, their peers and shaping and creating it. have access to the creative, their communities. informative, interactive Twenty-five years ago, when and participatory features Let’s Klik the Convention on the Rights of the digital environment. Dengan Bijak! of the Child (CRC) first came The digital divide affects the into force, many of the most vulnerable – whether by Wivina Belmonte platforms and much of the virtue of geography, economy, UNICEF Representative to digital technology that children gender or disability. So our Malaysia readily use today didn’t exist. work is twofold – getting more As we commemorate 25 years children engaged online and of the CRC and, coincidentally ensuring they participate in the 25th anniversary of the their digital freedom in a safe World Wide Web, we live in and responsible manner. a world transformed by the technology, tools, applications, This desk review was carried platforms and channels out under the Voices of Youth available for those who have Citizens initiative by UNICEF access to them, including to empower children and children – especially children. adolescents to use digital technologies for the realisation The technology of the digital of their rights as enshrined in age has changed how we the CRC. communicate, how we see and interact with a world now The report provides at our fingertips, changing information to enable all our social norms. The children stakeholders to further build Acknowledgements The authors of this report would like to express their gratitude to all the organisations and individuals for sharing with us their technical expertise and insights, and for providing additional sources and information. Our gratitude is extended to the following: • The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), with special thanks to Outreach and Engagement Division, for providing access to, and insights on MCMC-commissioned research on youth and the internet; • DiGi Telecommunications, with special thanks to Philip Ling Oon Hun, for insights on the role of Industry-Government Smart Partnerships and DiGi’s role in the CyberSAFE programme; • Star Publications (Malaysia) Berhad, with special thanks to Ian Yee, for inputs on R.AGE and for information on published stories related to cyber- bullying as well as youth advocacy through #RAGEchat; and • UNICEF staff for their review and technical insights. And also to the Berkman Centre for Internet and Society at Harvard University, with special thanks to Professor Urs Gasser, Executive Director, and Sandra Cortesi, Director of the Youth & Media Project, for their technical review and feedback on the report. A special note of gratitude also to the following children for allowing us to share their views on digital media in this report: • Cathryn Anila, 13 • Haziqah, 14 • Kher Nawawi Amin Bin Noranizam, 17 • Mohammad Hanafi Bin Yabiran, 16 • Muhammad Akif Rabbani bin Ab Rashid, 17 • Muhammad Khairul Nizam Bin Haris, 17 • Chooi Weng Hui, 14 CONTENTS Child Rights in a Digital Age 11 Background, Objectives, Methodology 12 1 Situation of Children and Youth in Malaysia 16 1.1 Country Profile 17 1.2 Meeting the Millennium Development Goals 18 1.3 Realising rights for children 20 1.4 Youth in Malaysia 24 2 Online and Digital Context 26 2.1 Overview of the online and digital context 27 2.2 Legal framework and policies relating to ICTs in Malaysia 30 2.3 Digital growth and access in Malaysia 32 2.4 The digital divide 36 3 Use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) by Adolescents and Youth 40 3.1 Access and usage of digital technology among children and young people 41 3.2 Keeping safe online 44 Observations 54 Endnotes 56 8 Exploring