MCMC backs police crackdown as Op Pedo nets 53 suspects, eight of them teens

MCMC and police step up joint efforts to curb misuse of network services for online child exploitation. — Picture by Raymond Manuel

First Published: Thursday, 24 Sep 2026 4:40 PM MYT

PUTRAJAYA, Sept 24 — The collaboration between the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) and the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) continues to be strengthened to combat the misuse of network services for the purpose of online child sexual exploitation.

Communications Minister Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil said MCMC, as the technical agency, would continue to play an important role in assisting PDRM, especially the D11 Division (Sexual, Women and Child Investigation) of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), in tracking down those who misuse network services and subsequently bringing them to justice.

“The MCMC’s role is to ensure that anyone who misuses network services can be traced, arrested and brought to justice, especially those who prey on children and women,” he told Bernama and RTM after attending the Communications Ministry’s ‘Jasamu Dikenang’ (Appreciation) ceremony here today.

Fahmi said the collaboration also involved technical and forensic aspects to assist PDRM investigations into online child sexual exploitation activities.

Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department (CID) director Datuk M. Kumar said on Sept 22 that eight teenagers, including a 13-year-old, were among 53 individuals arrested for suspected involvement in activities related to child sexual abuse material (CSAM) under Op Pedo Integrated 3.0 conducted recently.

The suspects were detained in simultaneous operations conducted from Sept 14 to 16 following intelligence gathered by the CID’s D11 unit with the MCMC, with police also detecting activities involving the production, distribution and sale of CSAM-related videos and animations through closed online groups, with the material being offered for between RM50 and RM60.

Meanwhile, Fahmi said the MCMC was also placing emphasis on the safety aspects of social media platforms through the legal framework related to online safety. 

“Through the Online Safety Act, we are also emphasising to social media platforms the need to ensure that the environment or platform itself remains safe, especially for women and children, notably those below the age of 16 are not allowed to open social media accounts,” he said.

Regarding the appreciation ceremony, which honoured 157 retirees and soon-to-retire employees from the Communications Ministry, Fahmi said the experience and insights of retired civil servants should continu to be utilsed to help improve government services, especially in the field of communications.

“I pray that they will continue to find ways to share their views and contribute to ensuring the government’s efforts, especially in the communications, remain successful in the eyes of the people.

“If there is anything they wish to share with us for improvement, I am very open to receiving their feedback,” he added. — Bernama