KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 27 — Major tech firms must comply with local laws to continue operating in Malaysia, Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil said today, after an industry group urged the government to pause a plan to require social media platforms to apply for a regulatory licence.
The Asia Internet Coalition (AIC) — whose members include tech giants Google, Meta and X — had made the call in an open letter to Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, citing a lack of clarity over the proposed regulations.
Fahmi said the government was ready to discuss with the AIC and other industry groups on the proposed regulations but had no plans to delay their implementation, aimed at tackling rising cybercrime.
Under the plan, social media platforms and messaging services with more than eight million users will be required to obtain a licence, and can face legal action if they fail to do so by January 1, 2025.
“Big tech companies are big but our laws are bigger. If they want to operate in Malaysia, they must respect and comply with our laws,” Fahmi told reporters, adding earlier engagements with representatives of social media firms on the plan had been positive.
The AIC letter, originally dated August 23, was taken down from its website late yesterday. Ride-hailing firm Grab, also a member of the group, said separately on the same day it had not been consulted on the letter’s contents.
A new version of the letter, dated August 26, was later posted to AIC’s website with several sentences removed, including a reference to the government’s plan being “unworkable” for the industry.
The letter also removed a list of the AIC’s member companies, which remain available on the group’s website.
— Reuters
