KUALA LUMPUR: In this insightful episode to kickstart the year, Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil shares with Beyond the Headlines the Madani government's aspirations for 2025, highlighting economic progress, a stronger ringgit, and increased investments.
The discussion touches on the establishment of the National Artificial Intelligence Office and Malaysia's commitment as ASEAN Chair, which will involve over 300 diplomatic engagements.
Fahmi delves into the Online Safety Bill, emphasising the role of an independent oversight committee to tackle harmful content and ensure platform accountability, free from political interference.
He also addresses the growing challenges of online pornography and prostitution, urging greater legal literacy and parental involvement to protect young people in the digital space.
A key focus of the conversation is the government's efforts to regulate social media platforms, particularly those with over 8 million Malaysian users.
Fahmi highlights the class licence requirement introduced to ensure compliance by platforms like Meta, which earned RM2.5 billion in advertising revenue from Malaysia in 2023.
Notably, 90 per cent of takedown requests by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) — targeting scams, online gambling, and harmful content — were directed at Facebook.
Fahmi stresses the importance of fairness, asserting that platforms profiting from Malaysia must comply with regulatory standards to ensure better safeguards against harmful content.
Tune in for an engaging discussion on Malaysia's digital future in the latest episode. Watch it now on NST Online's YouTube channel.