BAGAN DATUK: The federal government will ban any social media and online messaging platforms that refuse to comply licensing requirements, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said.
Such bans will be enforced from Jan 1 next year, he said. This comes after the government announced the introduction of a new regulatory framework for social media and online messaging platforms from Aug 1.
"Close them (ban the operations of the social media and online messaging platforms in the country).
"That is within the jurisdiction of MCMC," he said referring to the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission.
Zahid, who is also Umno president, said this to reporters after he launched the Bagan Datuk Umno division delegates meeting in Sungai Sumun here today.
The MCMC, in a statement yesterday, said social media and online messaging platforms with at least eight million users in Malaysia must apply for a licence from the government.
This, the commission said, was part of a new regulatory framework to ensure a safer online ecosystem.
"Failure to obtain a licence after the effective date would be an offence, and appropriate legal action can be taken under the Communications and Multimedia Act," the commission said, adding that regulatory framework is in line with the Cabinet's decision requiring social media and online messaging platforms to comply with Malaysian laws and combat cybercrime.
On a related matter, Zahid refuted claims that this licensing directive was politically motivated to suppress negative comments against the unity government.
"Why fear if the (social) media is used to spread the truth and reveal the true identity (of social media account holders)?
"Many countries do not use social media channels now. For example, China does not use the same media channels as we do. They have their own ways of dealing with it.
"The same goes for Singapore. Many countries require registration (by social media and online messaging platforms).
"This ensures that every user is responsible for what they write (and post on the social media)," he said.