KUALA LUMPUR:The Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) will collaborate with the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to provide awareness and understanding to students of institutions of higher learning (IPT) on social issues and cybersecurity.

Its minister Datuk Seri Dr Noraini Ahmad said the move was necessary so that relevant action could be taken to address the issue of IPT students who allegedly used web applications to engage in immoral activities of finding "sugar daddies”.

“MOHE today held discussions with the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission related to issues that have affected the reputation of universities and students recently.

"Both parties have also agreed to take some action to address this issue," Noraini said in a statement on her official Facebook yesterday.

Meanwhile, MCMC reportedly blocked the website sugarbook.com which was allegedly used by IPT students to connect with sugar daddies.

The website is blocked because its content violates the laws of this country and access to the site is also restricted under Section 263(2) of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.

Recently, the media reported claims that Malaysia is ranked the third highest in Asia behind India and Indonesia for the country with the highest number of "sugar daddies" through the Sugarbook app, which provides a platform to find a “sugar baby”.

According to the report, students and graduates are said to be ranked tops as “sugar babies”, followed by entrepreneurs, nurses, teachers, lawyers, waiters, personal assistants, make-up artists, models and pharmacists.

-- BERNAMA