Fahmi publicly orders MCMC chief to act against false news, cyberbullying

Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil has issued an open direct order for the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission to take urgent action against false news, online scams and cyberbullying on social media.

Fahmi did so in a speech during the launch of the National Month and “Fly Jalur Gemilang 2024” campaign in Cyberjaya, which Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim officiated.

"Day by day, problems linked to social media are trapping the people, to the point there are those who have killed themselves.

"(MCMC chairperson Mohd Salim Fateh Din) in front of everybody including the prime minister and the chief secretary to the government (Mohd Zuki Ali), I order you to do something (about the issues)," Fahmi was quoted as saying by Berita Harian.

Freedom of expression advocates and government critics previously questioned purportedly unfair MCMC requests for social media platform owners to take down flagged content.

In response, Fahmi and Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching both denied giving specific orders to MCMC to have such content removed.

Instead, they said, the internet regulator is free to act on complaints received, while social media platforms also have a right to deny takedown requests if it was decided the content did not go against the platform's guidelines.

Stern action coming

Fahmi today hinted that sterner actions can be taken against social media platform owners on incidents that threaten the safety of its users.

"After this, all the related platforms must be (more) responsible and insyaAllah, we will take very firm action within these next few days.

"Wait for it and we're doing this for the safety of everyone, particularly children and family.

"Trust that the government's intention is not only to guarantee cheaper and more accessible high-speed internet, but also to make it safer for us," the government spokesperson said.

Last week, Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo proposed the introduction of a new law placing responsibility for misuse of social media, including cyberbullying, on social media platform owners.

This came following the recent death of TikTok influencer Rajeswary Appahu, better known as Esha, in an incident linked to cyberbullying.

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