Kuala Lumpur: Service provider Telegram has been granted an Application Service Provider (ASP) C Licence to operate in Malaysia, according to Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil. This makes Telegram the third service provider to be licensed under Malaysia’s regulations for Internet messaging and social media platforms. The licence was obtained from the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) on January 2.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Meta, the company behind Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, is still in the process of submitting necessary documents to secure a similar licence. Fahmi expressed optimism that Meta’s licensing process would be completed soon. He made these remarks during a press conference following the exchange of documents for the Melaka Digital Village Initiative agreement between MCMC and the Melaka Government. The event was attended by Melaka Chief Minister Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh, Communications Ministry secretary-general Datuk Mohamad Fauzi Md Isa, MCMC chairman Tan Sri Mohamad Salim Fateh Din, and State Secretary Datuk Azhar Arshad.
Tencent’s WeChat was the first Internet messaging and social media service provider to receive the ASP (C) licence, followed by ByteDance’s TikTok. Fahmi also noted that discussions are ongoing with Google regarding its licensing, stressing that actions would be taken if there were any violations of communication laws, such as scams, deepfake videos, or online gambling on YouTube. He mentioned that YouTube views itself differently from other social media platforms, although “YouTube Shorts” shares similarities with TikTok.
Regarding the X platform, previously known as Twitter, Fahmi stated that MCMC is still managing the matter. The platform had announced that its user base in Malaysia had not yet reached the threshold of eight million users, which is a consideration for licensing.
Fahmi also highlighted the significance of the Melaka Digital Village Initiative, noting that it is the first project in Malaysia to utilize QR codes to modernize the home address system across 623 traditional villages in Melaka. The initiative aims to improve data access for public services and is expected to serve as a model for other states in fostering a more inclusive and competitive digital ecosystem.