Social media licence: Bersatu MP claims govt misplaced priorities

A Bersatu leader shadowing the Communications Ministry has questioned the government’s priorities as it introduces new regulations for social media platforms.

Specifically, Tasek Gelugor MP Wan Saiful Wan Jan pointed to the delay in setting up the Malaysian Media Council, with a draft bill on the matter expected to be tabled in Parliament’s October session.

Speaking to reporters at his office in Kuala Lumpur, he noted an overall sense of distrust in the present administration’s role in regulating news media and social media.

“For me, it is important to regulate social media, but we must remember there is an earlier issue of the media council which to date has yet to be resolved.

“That should be expedited but it appears that the government’s priority has turned upside down,” he claimed.

The Malaysian Media Council (MMC) Bill was drafted by a pro-tem committee set up during Pakatan Harapan’s first federal administration and is now finalising its founding members.

The MMC was proposed as a way for the media to self-regulate by developing and implementing a code of ethics that can enhance the profession and ensure responsible reporting.

Meanwhile, the government’s new regulatory framework for social media and internet messaging service providers, enforced under the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, came into effect yesterday.

Service providers with over eight million users in Malaysia will have until Dec 31 to register for an “applications service provider class” licence before implementation is enforced on Jan 1, 2025.

Freedom of speech

Commenting further, Wan Saiful said distrust of the government’s new social media rules stemmed from a lack of transparency in existing enforcements by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC).

“There is a lack of trust in the government’s capability and transparency to regulate social media.

“There is a worry on restrictions over freedom of speech on social media,” he said.

He cited alleged requests by MCMC for social media platforms to take down content deemed critical of the government.

“In the present situation of how the government has been acting, it is impossible for us to give them full trust to regulate social media,” he stressed.

Yesterday, Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil said 79 bodies were invited to engagement sessions on the new licensing rules but only 27 attended.

He reiterated that the government’s move is to curb online scams, cyberbullying, and sex crimes against children, and will not affect constitutionally guaranteed rights to freedom of speech.

Top level decision to remove PM's social media posts - Fahmi

Bersih invites Fahmi to public forum to discuss social media licence

This is not 'Ops Lalang' govt, Fahmi rebukes Ambiga

Possible fines, jail time await social media platforms that fail to register