Malaysia’s Communications Minister, Fahmi Fadzil, has asserted that major technology companies must adhere to local laws to maintain their operations in the country.
As part of this effort, the Malaysian government plans to mandate that social media platforms and messaging services with over eight million users secure a regulatory license by January 1, 2025.
This licensing requirement has drawn criticism from the Asia Internet Coalition (AIC), which includes prominent members such as Google, Meta, and X.
The AIC has requested a postponement of the licensing plan, citing ambiguities in the proposed regulations.
Despite these concerns, the Malaysian government remains firm on its stance, emphasizing that the regulations are crucial to combating escalating cybercrime.
Fahmi Fadzil indicated that prior discussions with social media companies about the plan were constructive and expressed the government’s willingness to engage further with industry stakeholders.
In a recent development, the AIC revised its letter to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. The updated letter, issued on August 26, removed earlier criticisms of the plan and omitted the names of the member companies.
Notably, ride-hailing firm Grab, also part of the AIC, clarified that it was not involved in the drafting of the original letter.
