SEPANG: Malaysia is pressing ahead with the licensing requirement for social media and instant messaging platforms.
This is despite pushback it is facing from the Asia Internet Coalition (AIC), an organisation representing tech giants like Meta, Apple, Amazon, Google, Yahoo, Rakuten, X, and LinkedIn.
Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil said AIC did not represent all companies and expressed his willingness to meet with any parties or companies regarding the licensing requirements.
"They are big tech, but our laws are bigger, and if they want to operate in Malaysia, they have to respect and comply with the requirements.
"The Malaysian government still stands by our position that social media and instant messaging platforms need to have a regulatory framework to ensure a safer internet landscape for Malaysians, especially children and families.
"AIC does not represent all companies, just a few, and there are also others that are unrepresented.
"The response in our discussions with representatives of the companies (of social media and instant messaging platforms) in Singapore was positive, and that is my stance," he said to reporters during an engagement session at Kampung Orang Asli Kelinsing, Sepang, as part of the Kampung Angkat Madani.
In an open letter to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, AIC yesterday urged the government to pause the new framework and to carefully consider how this upcoming licensing regime aligns with its broader economic goals before proceeding further.
The coalition believes the framework introduced by the MCMC is unworkable for the industry and will adversely impact innovation by placing undue burdens on businesses.
It added that the move would hinder investments and deter future ones due to the complexity and cost of compliance.
They also claimed that there had been no formal public consultation on the matter before the publication of the Information Paper and FAQs on Aug 1.
Fahmi debunked AIC's claim and said the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) had already met with AIC in May and the coalition had informed them that they would revert within a month.
"However, they had asked for multiple extensions up until they sent the letter," he said.
Fahmi added that MCMC would respond to AIC's open letter today.
The coalition, he said, had sent three letters: The first on Aug 23, with multiple logos; followed by a revised letter on Aug 26 with fewer logos; and another letter earlier today with no logos.
He said the logo of one of the 17 companies on the first letter was already licensed by MCMC and already bound by a regulatory framework.
He also described the move as "odd", and even more so when Grab Malaysia, one of the companies that AIC represented, issued a statement distancing itself as the licensing requirements did not involve them.
"Maybe AIC was not informed of the timeline that was set by MCMC. There is still room for discussions.
When asked about the possibility that tech companies might isolate Malaysia, he said the government had scrutinised all aspects.
"We will continue discussions with companies. We have yet to make a final decision, and Malaysia is very open to discussions," he said.
The regulatory framework for social media and internet messaging platforms was gazetted on Aug 1 and will come into effect on Jan 1 next year.