Fahmi: Meta reps couldn't give good answers, but PM accepts apology

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has accepted Meta’s apology over the removal of the premier’s social media posts regarding slain Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, said government spokesperson Fahmi Fadzil.

This is despite Meta representatives’ “poor explanation” on the matter during a meeting with the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) yesterday, the communications minister revealed.

“When they (Meta representatives) came (to the meeting), they were not ready to answer technical questions. Those who came were not engineers.

“When PMO brought up the issues, they were scrambling (terkial-kial) to look for the information.

“Maybe some of the decisions were above their pay grade. I don’t blame them, I blame those who sent them,” he told reporters after attending the Communications Ministry’s monthly assembly in Putrajaya today.

This came after Meta, in an earlier statement, apologised for removing content from Anwar’s Facebook and Instagram, citing an “operational error”.

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The deleted posts were about Anwar meeting Ismail in May, and the prime minister condemning the killing of the Hamas leader last week.

Meta then restored Anwar and other politicians’ deleted posts regarding Ismail on its platforms.

‘Let it not recur’

However, the restored posts included a note that they were still in violation of Meta’s community guidelines.

In response, Fahmi said Meta explained that the prime minister’s posts were given such notes on the advice of an “independent body”.

“Meta has an independent body that will look into any complaints or appeals made against any content that was taken down.

“So it was the independent body that suggested the ‘label’, not Meta.

“That was conveyed to me and I’m of the opinion that if that’s their way, then so be it,” he added.

Fahmi expressed hope that such removals will not recur.

“During yesterday’s meeting, I asked Meta to give the prime minister the same treatment as other countries’ leaders.

“Anwar should be accorded the same treatment.

“Please don’t treat certain countries in such demeanour while others are given the golden lane. Don’t practise double standards.”

Upsetting incident

However, Fahmi said he couldn’t accept Meta’s explanation on the disruptions reported during RTM’s live broadcast on Facebook of the government’s pro-Palestine rally held at Axiata Arena in Bukit Jalil on Sunday night.

“They said there were copyright issues involving a song sung by Faizal Tahir. But why was RTM’s live broadcast the only one blocked when other news portals had the same broadcast?

“I told Meta that I couldn’t accept their explanation because we had provided Meta with a list of news agencies who wished to broadcast the rally live and I asked for their cooperation to ensure there were no issues.

“I am upset by the incident,” he said, adding that Meta’s representatives only “smiled” without providing a satisfactory explanation.

Putrajaya’s rebuke of Meta comes amid efforts to get social media platforms operating in Malaysia licensed by Jan 1 next year, after which operators of unlicensed platforms can be punished with fines and jail time.

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