PAS cries foul over TikTok videos removed from T'ganu MB's account

PAS has cried foul over the removal of nearly 20 TikTok videos from Terengganu Menteri Besar Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar’s account.

Selangor PAS information chief Zurk Ahmad said the videos in question did not touch on 3R (race, religion, royalty) sensitivities.

“This is a violation of the right to freedom of speech. If you oppose, you are muted, that is the consequence of speaking out against the Madani administration. As a result, the country fell 34 steps in the World Media Freedom Index.

“The state of the government today is like a crack waiting to be split apart and almost all the actions of the government failed and are criticised by the people and foreign countries,” Zurk (above) claimed in a statement today.

“What can be done is to continue to lock the people’s mouths and deceive the people with tricks so that they remain in power,” he added.

‘Some are afraid of popular MB’

TikTok is seen as crucial to PAS’ reach, with International Affairs and External Relations Council chairperson Muhammad Khalil Abdul Hadi attributing the party’s 49-seat haul in the 15th general election to the social media platform.

Zurk said the videos were removed from TikTok without notice.

Among them were “A speech to Terengganu football players” with 1.3 million views, a video of Amy Chua - a member of the Terenggau PAS supporters’ club - with 5.5 million views, and a debate by Samsuri in Parliament with about 700,000 views.

“The videos only revolve around the state and the work of the menteri besar. This is not even the old video that (Communications Minister) Fahmi Fadzil banned. What ‘community guidelines’ have been violated?

“It seems that the number of views and Samsuri’s popularity is feared by certain parties,” Zurk said, pointing to the suggestion that Samsuri might be a future prime minister.

Blackrock criticism

He claimed that two of former minister Khairy Jamaluddin’s videos criticising the Blackrock share purchase issue were also deleted.

“What is the impact of this Malaysian policy discussion on TikTok?

“It is possible that a ‘special instruction’ has been received. The people know which ministry is the most functional today in the country,” Zurk added.

The government has previously denied involvement in the removal of several TikTok posts by Khairy on Blackrock and Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd, with Fahmi saying no instructions were given.

Fahmi said that the Communications Ministry and internet regulator the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) had not taken any action against Khairy’s posts.

Big Brother watching

Zurk claimed that the government and its agencies appeared to be monitoring the people’s social media, including that of opposition leaders.

“TikTok admits to receiving requests to delete more content in 2023.

“According to Meta, between July 2022 and June 2023, it restricted access to more than 3,500 pieces of content in response to reports made by Malaysia’s communications regulator and other government agencies.

“TikTok deleted 2,113 videos, including 325 videos at the request of the MCMC,” he said.

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