The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Malaysia (MCMC) has received complaints from the public regarding abuse of communications services and social media that warrants appropriate action, said Minister of Communications and Multimedia Salleh Said Keruak.

In disclosing this, he said these involved individuals uploading offensive content through websites and blogs.

He said MCMC viewed such abuse seriously which intended to belittle and instill hatred towards institutions of government.

"I would like to remind the public that it is an offence under Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, to upload any comment, request, suggestion or other communication which is obscene, indecent, false, menacing or offensive in character with intent to annoy, abuse, threaten or harass another person," he told Bernama after attending a meet-the-people session in Kota Belud today.

Salleh, who is also assemblyperson for Usukan, was asked to comment on actions by the MCMC to block and act against certain individuals who allegedly abused social media.

The MCMC had recently conducted an operation to zero in on errant individuals who were suspected to have uploaded offensive content onto their social media accounts.

The operation was conducted with cooperation from the Royal Malaysian Police's Commercial Crimes Investigation Department following public complaints concerning abuse of communication services and social media.

- Bernama