Death of Malaysian influencer following alleged cyberbullying: Woman arrested as minister warns against negative ‘culture’

SINGAPORE: Authorities in Malaysia have arrested a woman to facilitate their investigations into the alleged suicide of a social media influencer following online harassment, in a case that has sparked outrage and shone a spotlight on cyberbullying in the country.

Malaysia’s Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil also said that the issue of cyberbullying on social media platforms will be presented to the Cabinet on Friday (Jul 12), even as he warns that such negative “culture” should not take root in the country.

Ms Rajeswary Appahu, 30, – who went by the name Esha on social media and was known for her positivity and beauty content – was found dead in her home on Jul 5.

A day earlier, she had lodged a police report at the Dang Wangi police station in Kuala Lumpur expressing her fears of being raped and killed.

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The Star reported that Ms Rajeswary had named two individuals in her police report, alleging that they were tormenting her by trolling her on TikTok. She also claimed that she was harassed in a “live session” with the use of threats and vulgarity by an individual on the social media platform.

A TikTok live session allows viewers and creators to interact with one another in real time.

She said many of those watching the session had also levelled abuse against her, according to local media.

In her report, Ms Rajeswary alleged that the person had used her photo and made threats to “rape and kill” her.

Sentul police chief Assistant Commissioner Ahmad Sukarno Mohd Zahari said that Ms Rajeswary’s report before her death was not the only one lodged regarding her treatment online.

He said police had also received a report from a 39-year-old man on Jul 6, about threats made against Ms Rajeswary through the TikTok application.

"The complainant alleged … he saw two postings on TikTok by Dulal Brothers dan Alphaquinnsha, allegedly defaming and threatening (Ms) Rajeswary," he said, as quoted in the New Straits Times.

He added that both TikTok accounts used pictures of her in their background for the videos that were uploaded, and that foul language was used.

Both posts have since been removed, according to local media.

Meanwhile, United Rights of Malaysian Party (Urimai) deputy chairman David Marshel revealed that about a week before her death, a 30-year-old woman confided in him about the severe online abuse she was experiencing, expressing her desperation and suicidal thoughts.

"She contacted me a week ago, seeking help to save her from the cyberbullying she was facing on social media,” Mr Marshel said on his Facebook account, according to local news platform Sinar Daily.

On Monday, the police said they have arrested a 35-year-old woman in connection to the case.

Mr Sukarno said that the woman was arrested at the Bukit Beruntung Golf Resort in Rawal and will be held in remand until Jul 10 to assist in investigations.

Among others, the case is being investigated under Section 506 of the Penal Code for criminal intimidation as well as Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.

HIDING BEHIND FAKE ACCOUNTS

Speaking to reporters after visiting Ms Rajeswary’s funeral on Sunday, Mr Fadzil said that he had spoken to the woman’s family, who claimed that the pressure of being bullied on TikTok had resulted in her death, The Star reported.

“I am angry and upset. We will leave it to the police to investigate. Cyberbullying should not become a culture …” he said, adding that one of the main problems when dealing with the issue is that many of the perpetrators are difficult to identify as they hide behind fake accounts. 

“One of the complaints which the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) and the Ministry of Communications have received from the police, is that accounts involved in various abusive activities hide behind fake accounts, making it hard to identify the individuals who made the comments, or were involved in the scams,” he was quoted as saying by Bernama.

Mr Fahmi noted that the upcoming Jul 12 Cabinet meeting will discuss the issue of cyberbullying on social media platforms.

“We don’t just report what happened, but take action, especially if we need to amend the law and what are the current weaknesses,” he said.

Separately, Mr Fahmi warned that the public – and especially civil servants – should avoid becoming cyberbullies themselves. He added that the Communications Ministry would consider amending the existing laws related to cyberbullying and insisted that those involved in Ms Rajeswary’s case would be brought to justice.

“This matter was relayed to the prime minister … and I have also spoken to Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo and the Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Azalina Othman Said. We have a similar stance on this issue and will meet in a few days,” said Mr Fahmi.

Meanwhile, Segamat Member of Parliament R Yuneswaran has called for stern legal action to be taken against those responsible for the cyberbullying that led to Ms Rajeswary’s death, the New Straits Times reported.

“The Communications and Digital Ministries, as well as relevant authorities, should set a firm precedent by punishing those responsible for bullying Esha.

“The perpetrators of this heinous act must be held accountable. By doing so, we send a clear message to all bullies on social media platforms, such as TikTok and Instagram, that their actions will not be tolerated and will be met with severe consequences,” he said.

Malaysia’s The Sun newspaper reported earlier this year that the MCMC recorded 3,199 complaints related to cyberbullying in 2023. The commission identified Facebook as the primary platform for cyberbullying with 1,401 complaints received, followed by WhatsApp with 667, Instagram with 388, TikTok with 258 and X with 159.

Meanwhile, a United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) report released in 2022 found that Malaysia ranked second in Asia for cyberbullying among youths in 2020.

In 2022, a 44-year-old mother of three in Malaysia reportedly took her own life following bullying on TikTok, according to Sinar Daily,

In 2019, regional media reported that a 16-year-old girl in Sarawak jumped to her death hours after 69 per cent of respondents to her Instagram poll encouraged her to kill herself.