Editor's Note: An earlier version of this story inaccurately listed a 30 per cent Bumiputera shareholding as a requirement for an Applications Service Provider Class. That requirement only applies to Individual Licenses. The error is regretted.
KUALA LUMPUR: Social media and internet messaging service providers must establish a locally incorporated entity to apply for an Applications Service Provider Class.
However, a frequently asked questions guide released by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission stated that the Communications Minister reserves the discretion to allow foreign companies to register on a case-by-case basis.
The FAQ also confirmed that only service providers with over eight million users in the country must apply for the licence.
These include Facebook, Facebook Messenger, Instagram, TikTok, WhatsApp, Telegram, WeChat, X, and YouTube.
These service providers have a grace period of five months from Aug 1, the date the framework was gazetted, to apply for the licence and comply with its requirements.
Previously, MCMC announced the licencing requirement as part of a new regulatory framework to ensure a safer online ecosystem.
Recently (July 30), Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil said that MCMC met with most of the platforms to discuss the requirements.