CYBERJAYA: Malaysians use between 30 and 50GB of data per person per month, said Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil.
He said Malaysia's efforts to make internet affordable for all have been fruitful.
Fahmi said while he aims for the internet to be faster, better and more inclusive, it must also be safe for Malaysians.
"Malaysians consume between 30 and 50GB of data per month, which is the basic level. Compared to many other Southeast Asian countries, we are among the highest. We use various platforms like TikTok, YouTube, Instagram Reels, and others.
"All these platforms benefit financially from Malaysians, but they are negligent in adhering to regulations and taking necessary actions," he said in his speech at the launch of Sidang Anak Muda K2K today.
Fahmi said fraud cases, online scams, cyberbullying, and adult content, especially paedophilia have been on rise.
"Crime has migrated to the digital realm, especially social media. Therefore, we decided that as of Aug 1, enough is enough.
"If you want to profit from people, feel free to do so. However, you must comply with the laws and prevent crimes, as I mentioned earlier, from recurring and occurring on your platforms."
He said the new licensing requirement for social media and messaging platforms aims to address the increasing prevalence of cybercrimes.
On July 27, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) announced that social media and online messaging platforms with at least eight million users in Malaysia must apply for a license from August 1.
The MCMC said that this requirement is part of a new regulatory framework aimed at ensuring a safer online ecosystem.
The licence requirement will be enforced starting Jan 1 next year.
Failure to obtain a licence by the effective date will be considered an offense, and appropriate legal action can be taken under the Communications and Multimedia Act.