KUALA LUMPUR: The death of online influencer A. Rajeswary is cited as the event that forced the government's hand to mandate a licensing requirement for social media sites and messaging platforms.
Communications minister Fahmi Fadzil said that he was aware of the potential impact Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission's (MCMC) new regulatory framework had on freedom online.
"I used to stand against tighter regulations. As a reformist, as somebody who fought against the status quo (before being in government), I am also very mindful of the things that we do today, how will it impact freedom of speech tomorrow", he said in an interview with Channel News Asia.
Fahmi said that Rajeswary's case was the turning point in the government's approach to freedom online.
"At the same time, what really triggered this slew of rethinking about social media platforms and online messaging systems, that relationship between them and the government, was really this horrid case of a cyberbullying that led to a suicide in Malaysia", he explained.
A. Rajeswary, fondly known as Esha, was a social media influencer who allegedly committed suicide earlier in July after being bullied online.
Yesterday, prime minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim denied that the framework, which forces social media sites and messaging platforms with at least 8 million users to apply for a licence, was meant to curb political freedom.
Anwar instead cited cyberbullying as well as fraud.
"When we say restrictions are necessary, some argue against limiting freedom. Is freedom for deception, stealing, or abusing people until they commit suicide justified? These are issues that the public needs to understand, hence the focus on personal safety", he said.
MCMC's licensing requirement begins on Aug 1 and will be enforced from Jan 1 next year.
Previously, social media sites and online messaging platforms were exempted from licensing based on the Communications and Multimedia (Licencing) (Exemption) Order 2000.