KUALA PILAH, Nov 16 (Bernama) -- The Negeri Sembilan-level Internet security and awareness programme involving the elderly was organised recently, with the aim of providing knowledge to the group concerned about the importance of cyber security.
Kuala Pilah Senior Citizen Activity Centre (PAWE) chairman Mahamad Rasid Siad said the programme organised by the Negeri Sembilan Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) and the Malaysian ICT Volunteers (MIV) was a good approach in giving exposure to the elderly about the importance of cyber security and protecting personal data.
According to him, the programme was attended by 45 senior citizens comprising members of Kuala Pilah PAWE. Among the content included a lecture from a Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) officer on cyber security.
"Community programme like this will benefit its members especially the elderly, as I only knew about MCMC in the media and on television earlier, but now PAWE members in particular were able to get to know more about the products and services operated by MCMC.
"Alhamdulillah we are grateful that MCMC and MIV chose PAWE Kuala Pilah, which involves knowledge, Internet awareness and safety for the elderly who are a group at risk of becoming victims of fraud," he told Bernama.
The programme, which was also made possible in collaboration with the state Department of Social Welfare (JKM), PDRM, community National Information Dissemination Centre (NADI), together with Kuala Pilah PAWE members was held from 8.30 am to 12.30 pm.
Also present were Negeri Sembilan MCMC director, Ts Md Tahir Musa, state JKM Division for Development for Persons with Disabilities (OKU) and Senior Citizen, M. Danamala.
Meanwhile, some of the participants met generally welcomed the Internet safety and awareness programme.
One participant, Mahamad Rasid, 70, was grateful to be able to hear for himself the description of the sudden increase in various cases involving cyber security, especially crimes on digital platforms, online fraud and the spread of fake news that involve many senior citizens.
"MCMC's efforts in providing awareness and knowledge through various advocacy initiatives like this can clearly benefit the community, especially the elderly," he said.
For Norhani Rahim, 70, such a programme can give awareness to the elderly to be more careful when using social media because they are exposed to fraud syndicates on digital platforms.
"When I came to this programme and listened to the talk about cyber security, I understood that apparently many tactics are used by syndicates to deceive, so we need to be careful and not be easily influenced by lucrative offers," said the private company retiree.
Angeline Yew, 62, who joined PAWE two years ago, thinks that the programme should be held more often because it can help and educate the elderly about basic safety when using the Internet.
She said the knowledge provided by each speaker can help her improve her knowledge on how to protect personal data and information security while surfing the Internet, in addition to learning how to get information easily on the Internet.
"Klik Dengan Bijak and MIV initiatives through MCMC can increase awareness of security and protection in cyberspace. The Internet offers various sources of information, but if used without proper knowledge and protection, it can threaten our safety in the real world," she said.
-- BERNAMA
