KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 7 – The government has no intention to block access to internet messaging services and social media platforms that fail to register for licensing after Jan 1 next year, said Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil.
He said the licensing requirement under the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 aims to ensure service providers are accountable and play a key role in creating a safer online ecosystem for platform users.
Fahmi said that users would still be able to access and use the platforms after the regulation comes into force.
“Blocking access is a last resort, we do not want to go in that direction. What we want is not just fast internet but a safe internet platform for children and families,” he said in replying to a supplementary question from Datuk Wan Saifulruddin Wan Jan (PN-Tasek Gelugor) during the question-and-answer session in the Dewan Rakyat Thursday.
Wan Saifulruddin had asked whether the government would block access to social media platforms that fail to register for licensing after the regulation is enforced, as well as the potential overlap with the Online Safety Bill that is currently being drafted.
Regarding regulatory overlap, Fahmi said the ministry, along with the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) and the Legal Affairs Division (BHEU) of the Prime Minister’s Department (JPM), has conducted numerous engagement sessions to ensure that there is no overlap between the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 (Act 588) and the bill.
“Both regulations are complementary to each other,” he said.
