KUCHING: Social media platform providers have been given a one-month deadline to respond to the code of conduct, after which they will be required to register with the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) for licensing purposes, said Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil. He stated that once finalized by the end of this year, the code of conduct will be published, mandating all social media platform providers with more than eight million users in Malaysia to register.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil emphasized that there will be no negotiations on this mandate. Providers meeting the requirements will be obligated to register, with failure to do so resulting in serious consequences, including possible fines. Fahmi made these remarks after launching the National Information Dissemination Centre (NADI) at Taman Sukma.

Fahmi noted that most social media platform providers have been cooperative in providing feedback, though he pointed out that a few plat
forms remain uncooperative. “Only one or two platforms that think they are bigger than a sovereign nation are uncooperative, but we need to remind them that they make money in Malaysia, so they are obligated to comply with our country’s laws,” he asserted.

The Communications Minister elaborated that the code of conduct is a set of guidelines requiring social media platforms to be responsive to user complaints. Failure to comply will result in punitive actions. Furthermore, Fahmi stressed that all social media platforms must respect the Malaysian government’s position by not suppressing pro-Palestinian content.

Fahmi highlighted instances where pro-Palestinian content has been suppressed, including a post by the Prime Minister on Instagram that was removed. As a sovereign nation with diplomatic relations with all countries, including Palestine, the government’s and Prime Minister’s stances must be respected by these platforms, he concluded.